Rural Development Strategies
Year:2016 | Volume:3 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

The aim of this study was to investigate the action of rangeland-depended livestock holders regarding rangeland conservation, including protection and rehabilitation activities and to analyse relevant influencing factors, using a mixed method of survey and case study. The data were collected through analysing existing documents, focus groups, semi-structured and structured interviews using questionnaires submitted to 204 rural livestock holders in the Mahneshan Township. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS software. According to the results farmers’ knowledge regarding the role, importance and factors affecting rangeland degradation was relatively high, however they had a low level of knowledge and action about mechanical conservation techniques. The action of livestock holders in terms of biological conservation activities and grazing management showed a positive and signifincat corrletaion with variables such as implementing of rangeland projects, their interaction with external institutions, participating in extension training courses, education level and irrigated and rainfed agricultural land size. Moreover, based on a path analysis, 37% of the variance of the farmers’ actions regarding the rangeland conservation was explained by the variables such as rangeland rehabilitation actions, farmers’ conservation knowledge, farmers’ interaction with natural resources experts, beekeeping, and participating in extension training courses. Promotional and extension activities and farmers’ interaction with experts have a positive effect in enhancing farmers’ knowledge and actions for sustainable rangeland use and conservation.

Rural non-farm economy is seriously considered for using the full capacity of rural economy in developing countries. Rural tourism is a part of the tourism industry; it can play an important role in rural development, diversification of the national economy and national development through the potential identification. The main purpose of this study was investigation and evaluation of rural tourism attractions. In order to prevent from generalization as well as to achieve exact and applicable results, villages with tourist attractions in East Azarbaijan has been chosen as the area of study. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is used to prioritize the rural areas. This technique is based on a comparison of test and reviews the various options to managers and planners. The population of the study was experts who have knowledge and experience in the field of rural tourism. The findings of this study indicated that studied villages are three levels of development priorities, the levels can be considered as a basis for planning and decision-making of managers in East Azarbaijan Province.

Improving agriculture, the environment and other sectors in need of passive defense that can effectively help to complete the chain of defense is in the improvement of the agricultural sector. This study is applied for the purpose of gathering data descriptive population study of rural women in two villages in the central city of Bavi Khuzestan Tlbovmeh Salieh and the sample size of 736 persons was estimated by using Morgan 250. The data in this study was obtained using a questionnaire designed for the faculty members of the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ramin Khuzestan and the quotas were distributed randomly. Data were analyzed using the software described. Descriptive statistics and coefficient of variation in the average rate in the inferential statistical correlation test, Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the average F. The results of descriptive statistics showed that more rural women with primary education and familiar with the environment are very young and have a lot of faith, but their participation in solving environmental problems is very low. Based on the results of the correlation, age and education level of rural women in their understanding of the importance of agricultural activities passive defense is effective. The results of the test showed that in the comparison between age and level of education, rural women who are young and highly educated with a broad vision have a variety of agricultural activities in the context of agriculture that are passive defense.

The importance of water as a life source and a requisite for survival of rural areas as well as main driver of agricultural development made it necessary to manage its usage efficiently. Thus, it is really necessary that water users have a responsible and active participation in the management of water systems. The purpose of this survey research was to identify the factors affecting rural people's participation in the management and exploitation of irrigation and drainage networks in the Lishter Plain of Gachsaran County. Data was collected from a sample of 163 villagers which was selected based on stratified random sampling procedure. In the survey, data gathering tool was a close ended questionnaire. Its validity was verified using the face validity procedure. Its reliability was also calculated using Cronbach's alpha reliability from 0.633 to 0.923 based on a pilot study scores. The results showed that social capital, attitude towards participation, farming experience and prior participation experience have a positive and statistically significant effects on management and exploitation of irrigation systems, while other variables such as economic concerns, attitude towards official staff, the period of residency in village, educational level, planting area, number of farms and irrigation network coverage had no significant effects. The results of multiple linear regression indicated that structural factors and farming experience can explain about 0.439 of the variance of dependent variable that is participation in the management and exploitation of irrigation networks of the study area.

The descriptive- survey research was conducted to evaluate the rural waste management problems in Qazvin Township. The statistical population was consisted of all rural households in Qazvin Township (N=31338) which were selected and studied base on Cochran sampling formula and using randomized multi-stage sampling method 464. The research tool was a researcher made questionnaire. In this field, the content and face validity was verified by an expert panel. The reliability of research tool was acquired by conducting a pilot study and calculation cronbach alpha coefficient equals to 0.9. Data were analyzed by SPSS/Win 18 software and exploratory factor analysis technique was used. The results revealed that six factors named as final disposal problem of household waste management (17.11 percent), educational and cultural problems of household waste (14.11 percent), health problems of household waste (12.11 percent), knowledge and health problems of agricultural wastes (8.98 percent), knowledge problem of household waste (6.99 percent), and education problem of agricultural waste (5.47 percent) were explained as 64.68 percent of total waste problems in the region.

Agricultural processing industries in rural areas could bring the benefits of efficiency of products, increased employment and reduced agricultural waste. However, the success of the packaging for processing industries in the developing rural economy depends on the choice of the best location for the establishment of related industries. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal location of processing industries - depending on the direction of economic development in rural saffron packaging in the Torbat city. Information was collected in two ways from a library. The population of the study area was in the fields of Torbat city.19 villages were selected as samples using Cochran formula, 356 households were defined as households in the sample. Then to locate the packaging processing industries for saffron use of index of localization of the human dimension was considered normal. The data collected for analysis was gathered by using questionnaires, and the AHP model and SPSS software package were used. In this regard, the results suggest that the correlation between processing industries - depending on the size of saffron and economic development in the rural fields is based on research. Thus, the best location for saffron processing industries in the region, the villages and Colonel Asad were identified considering the natural conditions and human factors (fertile soil, access roads, etc.).

Rural tourism can be considered as all resorts and tourism activities in rural areas based on agriculture, livestock, fishing, arts and crafts, local customs, etc. The aim of this study was the investigation of factors affecting tourism in rural areas from the viewpoints of Esfidan residents. The population of study was the households in the village Esfidan (544 households). Sample was estimated from 226 head of household through simple random sampling. The questionnaire was the instrument of data collection that its face validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was assessed by a pilot test (which it’s Cronbach's alpha was 0.79). From the results, structures of the tourism were clustered into four factors: infrastructure, environmental, social and economic. In the end, according to the results of this research, recommendations were presented.

Joint farming stock companies are currently growing and the spread of this type of Farming Systems is already on the agenda of the government. In this paper, the shareholders’ satisfaction with the performance of joint farming stock companies has been evaluated. To this end, Correlation and Regression techniques were used. This research is an applied one with a descriptive-analytical approach. For collecting data, two techniques of documentary and surveying methods have been used. The population used in this study consisted of all 1899 shareholders of four old Joint Farming Stock companies, out of which 325 members were determined as the study sample using Cochran’s formula and the stratified random sampling technique. The analysis of data was done by using SPSS software. Satisfaction was estimated at four levels: unsatisfied, relatively unsatisfied, satisfied and very satisfied. The research findings indicated 48.1 and 17.9 percent of shareholders were "satisfied" and "very satisfied", respectively, with the performance of joint farming stock companies. Members’ 5satisfaction from the performance of joint farming stock companies was evaluated at moderate to high level. There was a statistically significant relationship between "participation in decision making”, “mode of the personnel’s behavior”, “appointment of competent persons”, “diversity of products" and "shareholders’ satisfaction" level. The results of regression analysis revealed that level of education, the amount of dividends, participation in decision-making and appointment of competent persons explains 83 percent of changes that occur at the level of shareholders satisfaction.