Introduction
Providing qualified, healthy and enough food for the population of the country has always been a fundamental issue for government officials and experts. At the same time, the economic growth of the society, the raise of consumption of livestock products in the household and the growth of the population have increased the demand for these products. Given these, conducting new scientific research for sustainable development of animal husbandry and promotion of livestock production is one of the inevitable strategies. Kerman Province has a dry/arid climate, but due to its large rangelands, it is one of the traditional nomadic places for rural livestock activities in the country. Because of unbalanced distribution, some areas of Kerman Province have a good ability to produce livestock, especially in rural and nomadic areas, which has a large share in supplying meat and dairy products needed for local people and even exported to neighboring places. At present, the north of Kerman province is ranked the 13th red meat, egg and honey producer, the 17th milk producer and the 18th chicken meat producer. The amount of animal husbandry employment in this province is 40%. A small amount of studies in Iran investigated structural and institutional factors influencing the sustainable development of the livestock industry. This is a common issue for other countries too. Studies have been mostly on the factors on sustainable development of other sectors such as tourism, sustainable rural development, etc.
Methodology
According to the purpose, nature and method, this study is considered as an applied and descriptive-analytical research, respectively. The statistical population consisted of three groups: experts of the deputy for livestock in Agricultural Jahad Organization of Kerman Province, experts of the Animal Sciences Research Department of the Kerman Agricultural Research Center, and some representatives of private sector organizations. 20 individuals were selecetd from these groups. The data collection tool was a questionnaire including 70 close questions. This questionnaire was divided in 7 domains (indicators): vision, objectives and macro strategies in policy (4 items), process and cycles of input supply and sales of livestock products (4 items), vision, objective and strategies for sustainable development of livestock industry (12 items), upgrading the capacity of existing economic activities in the livestock industry (18 items), sustainable development programs in the livestock industry (10 items), effective mechanisms in sustainable development of the livestock industry (13 items), social and institutional requirements for implementation of development projects (7 items).
Discussion and conclusion
The results of the study obtained using descriptive and inferential statistics showed that for the vision, objectives and macro strategies in policy for Kerman Province in the official documents (before the Sixth National Development Plan and after two-year implementation of the Plan), the most successful livestock was first the heavy livestock and then the poultry. Light livestock and aquatic animals are the next prospering livestock before the Sixth National Development Plan. However, the performance of the two-year implementation of the Sixth Plan has been less successful than the previous plans, so this need to be addressed in planning and policy making. Regarding the process and cycles of input supply and sales of livestock products, experts believe that supplying the inputs (fodder and concentrate, chickens, genes, vaccines, medicine, etc.) before production, and then services and supply during production, such as veterinary and health services, technical guidance to production units are the most effective measures. On the other hand, marketing procedure and products supply to the final consumer as well as the collection, processing and processing of livestock products are less important. Therefore, the problems of providing inputs and fodder and services should be a priority for the relevant organizations. One of the most effective indicators of sustainable development of the livestock industry in the north of Kerman Province is the income enhancement. Consequently, any policy for sustainable development of the livestock industry should first increase the income for the ranchers. The experts also believe that the facilitation of the Agriculture Jahad Organization is the most effective action for enhancing the capacity of economic activities in the livestock industry. The facilitator enables the group or organization to operate more effectively, increase collaboration, and create cooperation. The facilitator also encourages individuals to participate, understand each other, and collectively do tasks. Among the current programs for sustainable development of the livestock industry in the north of Kerman Province, increasing production and productivity is of the highest importance from the experts' point of view. Improving the entrepreneurial attitude and identifying human resources in the livestock industry to implement projects are the other variables that can pave the way for improving and promoting the sustainable development of the rural livestock industry in the north of Kerman Province.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2021/12/15 | Accepted: 2021/12/1