Farm Management
Fathollah Kesharz Shal; Teymour Amar; Mohammad Sadegh Allahyari; Bahman Ramazani
Volume 11, Issue 2 , Spring 2021, , Pages 225-234
Abstract
Designing and developing a proper plan for entrepreneurship in rural areas have turned into an imperative task, which can be defined considering the capabilities, culture, and local norms in each region. The statistical population of the present research, which aimed to design and present a proper paradigm ...
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Designing and developing a proper plan for entrepreneurship in rural areas have turned into an imperative task, which can be defined considering the capabilities, culture, and local norms in each region. The statistical population of the present research, which aimed to design and present a proper paradigm for planning by formulating entrepreneurship indices tailored with local attributes and their climatic conditions, was composed of rural users in Masal County in Guilan province, Iran. The main research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was achieved by collecting the opinions of experts and scholars through the Delphi method and whose reliability was estimated by Cronbach’s alpha to be 0.66-0.83 for different sections. The participants were 486 individuals including rural entrepreneurs, Dehyars, Islamic Rural Council members. The exploratory factor analysis was employed to reduce the research variables to fewer factors and determine the contribution of each factor in rural planning. Based on the results, the personal factors influencing entrepreneurship planning included 14 variables. After the varimax rotation of the driving factors, they were classified into four indices of pragmatism, ambiguity tolerance, creativity and ideation, and achievement motivation. From the participants’ viewpoint on the personal factors, the indices of risk-taking, ambiguity tolerance, creation and ideation, and achievement motivation were the first to fourth important factors influencing entrepreneurship planning, respectively.
Environmental policy and management
Snour Ahmadi; Hossein Kouhestani; Hossein Yadavar; Hossein Shabanali Fami; Azad Ahmadi
Volume 11, Issue 1 , Winter 2021, , Pages 161-175
Abstract
Nowadays, the concept of sustainability assessment in agricultural entrepreneurship is one of the most prominent research subjects among researchers and policymakers. Although there are numerous sustainability assessment frameworks for agricultural enterprises, the selection of sufficient indicators ...
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Nowadays, the concept of sustainability assessment in agricultural entrepreneurship is one of the most prominent research subjects among researchers and policymakers. Although there are numerous sustainability assessment frameworks for agricultural enterprises, the selection of sufficient indicators is still a matter of debate. This study aimed to fill this gap with an emphasis on applicability by adopting a descriptive-analytical survey using the Delphi method. To this end, a conceptual framework for the identification of components, criteria, and indicators of sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship was first developed. Then, a set of indices capable of signifying the status of sustainability in agricultural entrepreneurship activities in rural areas of the Kurdistan Province, Iran, were extracted using the opinions of a panel of experts, consisting of 30 local entrepreneurs, university instructors, and experts on agriculture. Data collected from the panel was analyzed by fuzzy TOPSIS, as a multi-criteria decision-making method. The results revealed the indicators of the sustainability assessment framework for agricultural enterprises in the study area. The ultimate objective of this study was to discuss and test the proposed framework to broaden its applicability to similar regions.
Decision-making
Sahar Dehyouri
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Spring 2019, , Pages 89-106
Abstract
Rural areas have always played a significant role in the global economy by providing a variety of foods and raw materials. This role is much more prominent in developing countries. Rural development is also an important part of regional policies, covering agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, ...
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Rural areas have always played a significant role in the global economy by providing a variety of foods and raw materials. This role is much more prominent in developing countries. Rural development is also an important part of regional policies, covering agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, land use, and economic diversity in these areas. The present study focused on investigating rural development in rural areas of Islamshar County, Iran. Given the lack of productivity in this region and the fact that this county is so close to two metropolitan cities of Karaj and Tehran, it is necessary to examine the level of development of the villages in this county. Among various methods of ranking, the credit and point of rural development in this research were measured by AHP-based TOPSIS, factor analysis, and scale gram methods. Categorization by TOPSIS and factor analysis revealed close results considering 27 criteria for the evaluation of choices. Scale gram analysis generally confirmed these results. Also, the overall results show that the economic factor derived from the factor analysis method and the agricultural factor derived from the AHP method were acceptable. According to the viewpoint of the research population, many of the rural areas in the studied county were categorized in "deprived" group.
Rural tourism and recreation
Valiollah Sarani
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Spring 2019, , Pages 165-175
Abstract
Improvement of life quality is a general aim of all developmental programs all over the world. So that, It is an important issue that has been studied by socialists and even psychologists. Social capital is the social aspect that ...
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Improvement of life quality is a general aim of all developmental programs all over the world. So that, It is an important issue that has been studied by socialists and even psychologists. Social capital is the social aspect that consists of trust, a norm for regulating the relation among members, and network, which can increase mental health and can be used as the access to health information; accordingly, it can influence individuals’ quality of life. Thus, the present study attempted to explore the effect of social capital components on rural women’s quality of life in Zabol Township. The statistical population of this study consisted of all rural women (15-64 years old) in the central district of Zabol Township (N=9234). Based on Bartlett (2001)’s sampling table and applying multi-stage cluster sampling method, 209 rural women were chosen for the study. The main instrument used in this study was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by the panel of experts and its reliability was established by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed by SPSS23 software. Result of inter multiple regression analysis revealed that the social capital components were the main predictors of rural women’s quality of life in Zabol Township. The findings of this study have implication for rural development policy makers and planners in order to improve the rural women’s quality of life in the process of rural development.
Environmental policy and management
Michele Fonte Francesco
Volume 8, Issue 1 , Winter 2018, , Pages 17-23
Abstract
The paper presents the articulated strategy of valorization, implemented by the international movement called Slow Food in Italy and abroad in order to reconsider the concept of agricultural profitability. In particular, the paper suggests profitability lays on the value markets recognize to agricultural ...
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The paper presents the articulated strategy of valorization, implemented by the international movement called Slow Food in Italy and abroad in order to reconsider the concept of agricultural profitability. In particular, the paper suggests profitability lays on the value markets recognize to agricultural production. In this perspective, the Slow Food strategy represents a good practice to be emulated because it strengthens the producers’ confidence, improves product culture among producers and consumers, and re-embeds local agricultural products into the hotbed of practices of society while mass consumption drives it to abandonment.
Education and training
Md. Ektear Uddin; A K M Kanak Pervez; Qijie Gao; Md. Habibur Rahman; Md. Shafiqul Islam
Volume 7, Issue 3 , Summer 2017, , Pages 293-304
Abstract
The study investigated the effect of Community-Based Paid Extension (CPE) on vulnerability reduction of smallholder dairy farmers. Randomly sampled 255 farmers were interviewed together with 15 key informants’ interview. Both statistical analysis and thematic approach were employed to achieve triangulation. ...
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The study investigated the effect of Community-Based Paid Extension (CPE) on vulnerability reduction of smallholder dairy farmers. Randomly sampled 255 farmers were interviewed together with 15 key informants’ interview. Both statistical analysis and thematic approach were employed to achieve triangulation. In about 68 % of cases, CPE reduced vulnerability to a degree experienced as ‘moderate’, whereas 20 % of them experienced a ‘high’ reduction in vulnerability. The CPE has addressed wide ranges of vulnerability of smallholder dairy system. The regression analysis confirmed the importance of sustainable and frequent paid extension service at community level. Others factors such as education level of the farmers, use of different interpersonal and mass extension media, as well as positive change in livelihood assets also significantly influence vulnerability reduction of the smallholder dairy farmers. CPE deserves dissemination throughout the country and seeks special dairy extension policy organized around it for rapid rural development.
Reza Movahedi; Masoud Samian; Ahmad Yaghoubi Frani; Khalil Mirzaei
Volume 7, Issue 2 , Spring 2017, , Pages 155-164
Abstract
Given the importance of women's participation and taking advantage of their ability, it is essential that a systematic and strategic plan should be organized in this area. Undoubtedly, planning for the development of the specific associations of rural women can be an effective step to increase their ...
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Given the importance of women's participation and taking advantage of their ability, it is essential that a systematic and strategic plan should be organized in this area. Undoubtedly, planning for the development of the specific associations of rural women can be an effective step to increase their participation in various scenes, and it can also help improve the status and rights of women. The main objective of this study was to explore factors affecting the development and strengthening of rural women’s enterprises. A mixed method was used in this study. Data gathering tools were both semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Target samples were both 25 rural development experts and 92 rural women in the Hamadan County. The results showed that the following items are essential for the development and strengthening rural women’s enterprises: applying legal and financial support; family support; management support, and education and cultural support. In addition, the following strategies are required: culture building; women's empowerment programs, continued implementation of consulting and training programs, and encouraging the introduction of the women's enterprises. The results of factor analysis showed that economic, sociocultural, and education and extension factors can determine approximately 60 percent of factors affecting the development and strengthening of rural women’s enterprises.
Hossein Bevrani; Simin Naseri
Volume 7, Issue 1 , Winter 2017, , Pages 101-108
Abstract
Rural women play a significant role in domestic and socio-economic life of the society so that national development is not possible without developing this important and substantial segment of our society. Given the importance of women in agriculture, this study was conducted to examine the role of Iranian ...
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Rural women play a significant role in domestic and socio-economic life of the society so that national development is not possible without developing this important and substantial segment of our society. Given the importance of women in agriculture, this study was conducted to examine the role of Iranian women in the farm management decision-making processed concerning animal husbandry. The sample of the study comprised 200 farm women, who were recruited by the help of the proportionate stratified sampling technique. Data were collected in East Azerbaijan in the Northwest of Iran. Women’s contribution to agriculture is thus fundamental for the socio-economic development of rural areas. They are extensively involved in agriculture as female farm heads, co-owners, family farm workers, and also employees. In order to find out the relationship between different characteristics of rural women and participation in animal husbandry, the GLM multivariate method was employed as a robust statistical method. As the final results showed, women age, family size, level of aspiration, extension contact, perceived role overloads, and inter-spouse communication correlated highly with work participation in animal husbandry.
Rural tourism and recreation
Roya Eshraghi Samani; Shima Malekshahi; Alireza Poursaeed
Volume 6, Issue 3 , Summer 2016, , Pages 257-264
Abstract
Rural tourism is a factor in multidirectional development of rural areas and its most important consequences are population stability, unemployment problem alleviation, and immigration reduction. The present survey was set to investigate the strategies of developing rural tourism in Mishkhas Village ...
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Rural tourism is a factor in multidirectional development of rural areas and its most important consequences are population stability, unemployment problem alleviation, and immigration reduction. The present survey was set to investigate the strategies of developing rural tourism in Mishkhas Village in Ilam Province using the SWOT technique. A questionnaire was used as the data gathering instrument and the sample size was determined to be 368 based on the Krejcie and Morgan table. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to show the reliability of research instrument which came out to be 0.87. In this research, the internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (threats and opportunities) of the region were ranked by the SWOT technique. It was indicated that the amount of advantages with the obtained value of 5.87 (strengths and opportunities) was higher than limitations rate of weaknesses and threats (4.531). Thus, according to the results, the strategy of developing rural tourism was applied in this region.
Rural tourism and recreation
Farideh Azimi; Samvel Avetisyan
Volume 6, Issue 3 , Summer 2016, , Pages 377-385
Abstract
This study determined the situation of rural tourism and agro-tourism in Tehran Province as well as the expected economic impacts of agro-tourism development on it. In this research, we used documental research method and field research based on questionnaires and face-to-face interview. It was found ...
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This study determined the situation of rural tourism and agro-tourism in Tehran Province as well as the expected economic impacts of agro-tourism development on it. In this research, we used documental research method and field research based on questionnaires and face-to-face interview. It was found out that despite different tourist attractions in rural areas of Tehran province, tourist arrival to the rural areas was only due to natural attractions. Almost all counties have agricultural tourist attractions, but no comprehensive and coherent programs have been implemented for the development of agro-tourism in the region. It was revealed that one job can be created in exchange for the arrival of nearly 133 Agro-tourists, that tourists in their rural trips are more willing to buy agricultural products and homemade processed foods as compared to handicrafts and other goods, that in rural trips, Agro-tourists will spend more money for their purchases than other rural tourists, and that Agro-tourists earn much more benefit on their purchasing as compared to rural tourists. Based on the results, the most important expected economic impacts of Agro-tourism development in Tehran province include the increase in Agro-tourist arrivals to the rural regions, the increase in job creation, the improvement of rural economy and much more Agro-tourism revenue in rural areas as compared to other fields of rural tourism.
Seyed Nematollah Mousavi
Abstract
This paper aims to study the role of women in agricultural promotion and its effect on rural development. Research method in this study was based on a survey and the required information was collected through questionnaire from a sample of women especially rural women. The data were analyzed using Logit ...
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This paper aims to study the role of women in agricultural promotion and its effect on rural development. Research method in this study was based on a survey and the required information was collected through questionnaire from a sample of women especially rural women. The data were analyzed using Logit model. The results showed that women had a major role in farming including producion, conservation, and destructing. The results also showed that women had a great tendency for participating in extension classes to improve their knowledge for sustainable development. Considering the results, it was necessary to provide the life facilities and necessities, awareness women especially rural women with group media and organizing the promotional and educational classes for reaching the sustainable development.
Zahra Korani; Fateme Pourghasem; Tahereh Emami
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to investigate effect of access to health facilities on the health status of rural households at Kermanshah Province. Statistical pupation of this study consisted of all heads of rural households at Bisotoun district in Harsin Township, Kermanshah Province, Iran (N=1020), ...
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The main purpose of this study was to investigate effect of access to health facilities on the health status of rural households at Kermanshah Province. Statistical pupation of this study consisted of all heads of rural households at Bisotoun district in Harsin Township, Kermanshah Province, Iran (N=1020), that 278 of them were selected by the cluster random sampling method. The main instrument of this study was a questionnaire which its validity confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The results showed that the health status of rural households was medium at the given district. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that 36% of the dependent variable (health status) is explained by five following variables: level of water availability, level of sewer system availability, and level of access to health services (e.g. toilet, bath, health home, etc.), access to resources and communication and information channels and the level of waste disposal system availability. The results of this study can be considered by authorities and politicians so that they can pay more attention to the rural health issues.
Farideh Azimi; Mohammad Bagher Kamali
Volume 1, Issue 1 , Winter 2011, , Pages 7-14
Abstract
This study aimed to examine key factors affecting rural female facilitators’ role in participatory rural development in Tehran Province. Since the researchers intended to have a better insight into the facilitators’ role and employ inquiry as a learning forum for bringing about changes for ...
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This study aimed to examine key factors affecting rural female facilitators’ role in participatory rural development in Tehran Province. Since the researchers intended to have a better insight into the facilitators’ role and employ inquiry as a learning forum for bringing about changes for all participants, they preferred to use a case study based upon an appreciative inquiry method. The study divided the factors affecting the facilitators’ role into two main categories: driving factors and preventing factors. The former are: two-way communication, election of rural eligible facilitators, participation, sense of responsibility, and the latter are: cultural and tribal fanaticism, lack of permanent female extension workers and frequent management changes. Appreciative inquiry as a positive mode of action research could facilitate the process of education and communication for all stakeholders. We suggested that there should be a shift from the extension as a knowledge transfer to facilitation as people’s own knowledge creation. This study showed that appreciative inquiry could facilitate the process of change and gender-awareness. This research method could also facilitate mutual communication between the rural facilitators and extension workers.
