SPACE ECONOMY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Identifying the Prerequisites and Components of Technological Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas (Case Study: Khaf)

Seyed Amirhossein Garakani

Objective: This study aims to identify the prerequisites and components related to technological entrepreneurship in the rural areas of the Khaf territorial system. Given the concentration of technological development in urban areas and the deprivation of rural communities from its benefits, this research investigates strategies for promoting technological entrepreneurship as a tool for reducing migration, strengthening the local economy, and improving the quality of life in rural regions.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using the grounded theory approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 experts active in the field of rural entrepreneurship. The data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding processes.
Results: The results revealed that the factors influencing technological entrepreneurship fall into three categories: (1) individual factors such as motivation, risk tolerance, and technological skills; (2) environmental factors, including access to digital infrastructure, governmental support, and a culture receptive to technology; and (3) structural factors such as supportive policies and inter-institutional cooperation. Major challenges identified include mono-product economies, lack of specialized training, absence of communication infrastructure, and gender inequality. Proposed strategies include identifying local capacities, developing infrastructure, targeted training, and strengthening community participation.
Conclusions: Technological entrepreneurship can contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas by generating new employment opportunities, enhancing productivity, and preserving cultural identity. Developing a coherent framework that emphasizes local conditions and coordination between governmental and private institutions is essential for the success of this approach. The findings of this study provide practical insights for rural development policymakers and planners to design and implement more effective programs based on the key identified factors.

The Role of Networking of Funds Supporting the Development of Agricultural Activities in Improving the Income Level of Rural and Nomadic Women Entrepreneurs in Urmia County

Ozra Javanbakht

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the role of networking of funds supporting the development of agricultural activities in improving the income level of rural and nomadic women entrepreneurs in Urmia County.
Methods: The statistical population of the research is rural and nomadic women who are members of the microcredit fund in Urmia County. Using the Krejci and Morgan table, 182 of them were selected as the study sample. The required data was obtained by filling out the questionnaire using random sampling method. To achieve the study's goal, according to the nature of the dependent variable, which is defined as a binary variable (one for incomes higher and zero for incomes lower than the average income of the selected sample), the logit model was used. The independent variables of the model include social, educational-promotional, organizational, supra-organizational, psychological, infrastructure and supporting, political-legal, and monitoring factors, which are proposed as networking components. Finally, after estimating the logit model using EVIWES software, the marginal effects and elasticities of each independent variable were calculated using the estimated coefficients of the model.
Results: The results obtained from estimating the logit model showed that the variables of educational-promotional, monitoring, infrastructure and support, organizational, political-legal, psychological and supra-organizational factors as networking components have a significant and positive effect on the income level of women members of support funds, and social factors do not have a significant effect. Based on the calculated elasticities, with a one percent improvement in each of the mentioned factors, the income of women members of the fund will increase by 0.84, 0.9, 0.75, 0.66, 0.43, 0.92, and 0.50 percent, respectively. Also, the marginal effects showed that with a one-unit improvement in the mentioned factors, the income of rural and nomadic women increases with a probability of 0.52, 0.63, 0.44, 0.31, 0.27, 0.50, and 0.39 percent, respectively.
Conclusions: Prioritizing the impact of networking components on increasing the income of women members of support funds in Urmia County based on both elasticity and marginal effects showed that the impact of psychological, monitoring, and educational-promotional factors is greater than other components, and political and legal factors have the least impact. Therefore, efforts to improve these factors through providing educational and promotional services and holding business skill courses can be effective in the financial and economic empowerment of rural and nomadic women.

Analysis of the Effect of Technical and Vocational Training on the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (Case Study: Bahmai County, Iran)

Zahra Soltani

Objective: Technical and vocational education, as one of the fundamental pillars of human and economic development, plays a decisive role in enhancing skills, employability, and workforce productivity. Such training programs -particularly in rural areas- can provide an effective platform for developing practical and entrepreneurial competencies, thereby fostering the formation of dynamic human capital. When rural women are empowered through technical and vocational education, they not only acquire the skills necessary to enter the labor market and establish small or home-based enterprises, but also gain a deeper understanding of the economic potential within their local environment. This process contributes to increased household income, improved living conditions, and greater participation of women in rural economic development. Consequently, the linkage among technical and vocational education, women’s empowerment, and rural economic growth serves as a sustainable driver of poverty reduction, the creation of decent and lasting employment, and balanced development within rural communities.
Methods: The research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and type. The required data were collected using documentary and survey methods. Quantitative techniques such as T-tests and the ARAS decision-making method were used for data analysis.
Results: The results of this study indicate that technical and vocational training generally has a positive impact on the lives of rural women across all four indicators of income, consumption, savings, and production. However, the extent of this impact varied across the county's districts. The Rud Talkh district experienced the most positive impact across all four indicators, while the North Tropical Bahmaei district experienced the least impact from these trainings.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of equitable and proportional distribution of technical and vocational training across the county and the necessity of tailoring the content of these trainings to the specific needs of each region.

Social Entrepreneurship and Its Role in the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (Case Study: Women Employed in Clothing Production Units in Topqareh Rural District, Khodabandeh County)

Jamshid Einali

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the role of social entrepreneurship based on self-help groups in the economic empowerment of rural women in Topqareh rural district in Khodabandeh County (Zanjan province).
Methods: The present study is of an applied type, and its method is descriptive-analytical. The statistical population of the study is 645 women working in a clothing production workshop, of which 240 were selected as a sample using the Cochran formula. Due to the high participation of the individuals, 271 questionnaires were completed and used as the basis for analysis. A field method based on completing a questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using one-sample t-tests, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The results of the one-sample t-test showed that social entrepreneurship has a positive effect on all indicators of rural women's empowerment, and the indicators of participation in household decision-making and promotion of women's personal and social security both had the greatest impact on rural women's empowerment, with a numerical mean of (4.11). Also, the results of the Wilcoxon test showed that there was a significant difference in all research indicators at the 99% level, and the greatest changes were observed in the indicators of socio-economic self-reliance (-11.511) and social freedom and mobility (-11.508).
Conclusions: Social entrepreneurship based on rural women's self-help groups has helped improve the economic indicators of rural women's empowerment.

A Meta-Analysis of the Contribution of Agricultural Production to Food Security Among Rural Households

Yaser Mohammadi

Objective: Food security is a major issue in sustainable development and in improving the quality of life of rural households. Agricultural production plays a crucial role in meeting nutritional needs and enhancing the livelihoods of rural communities. The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of agricultural production to food security in rural households using a meta-analytic approach based on data extracted from reputable scientific databases.
Methods: The statistical population included studies related to the role of agricultural production in food security among rural households published in scientific databases—SID, Ensani, Noormags, Magiran, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scopus from 2000 to 2025. Based on the inclusion criteria, 27 studies were selected and analyzed using CMA2 software. In addition, VOSviewer was utilized to construct a thematic network and identify frequently used terms. Keywords were searched in international databases, and data from selected studies were stored in a CSV file for import into VOSviewer. A separate search was conducted for domestic sources, and their information was entered manually. Scientometric indicators were analyzed using VOSviewer. Due to heterogeneity in the data- identified through Q and I² indices- a random-effects model was selected.
Results: The thematic network analysis showed a meaningful relationship between agricultural production and food security in rural households. Begg and Mazumdar’s correlation test confirmed relative symmetry in the included studies, indicating an absence of publication bias. The overall effect size was estimated at 0.507, which, according to Cohen’s criteria, is considered high.
Conclusions: The results demonstrate that increased agricultural productivity leads to long-term improvements in food security among rural households. The vocabulary network analysis also showed that food security is linked to dietary quality and diversity, as well as challenges such as climate change, poverty, and gender issues, highlighting the need for comprehensive and integrated approaches to address these concerns.

Effects of Tourism Entrepreneurship on the Viability of Rural Households: A Case Study of North Banajoui Rural District, Bonab County (IRAN)

Javad Hajializadeh

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of tourism entrepreneurship on the viability of rural households in the North Banajoi Rural District of Bonab County (North West of IRAN).
Methods: The present study is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its method. The statistical population of the study consists of rural households in the northern Banajoi rural district of Bonab city. According to the results of the 2016 census, 3828 households, equal to 12262 people, live in this rural district, and 349 people were selected as a sample using the Cochran formula. The data and information of the study were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, the face and content validity of which was confirmed using the opinions of relevant experts and professors. Also, its reliability using the Cochran formula was found to be 0.79 for the tourism entrepreneurship component, 0.77 for the sustainability component, and 0.78 for the entire questionnaire. In order to analyze the research findings, one-sample t-test, multivariate regression analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used.
Results: The results of the one-sample t-test showed that the status of tourism entrepreneurship, with an average of 3.121, and the status of rural household viability, with an average of 3.223, are in a desirable state. The results of the multivariate regression analysis of the effects of tourism entrepreneurship on rural household viability showed that the economic index had the greatest impact on rural household viability, with a beta coefficient of 0.376. The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the value of the obtained correlation coefficient was equal to 0.376, which indicates a significant relationship between tourism entrepreneurship and rural household viability.
Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between tourism entrepreneurship and the viability of rural households, so that by providing a platform for entrepreneurship and improving tourism economic indicators, the viability indicators of rural households will also improve.

Explaining the Distribution of Economic Benefits of "Kebab Bonab" Gastronomy Tourism from the Perspective of Local Residents

Abual-Qasim taghizad fanid

Objective: The effects of tourism, especially in rural areas, vary by spatial location. In fact, if tourism activities are to be accepted as an approach for sustainable economic development in rural areas, it is necessary to examine the distribution of their benefits and make the necessary plans for their equitable distribution. The present study, while addressing this issue, examines the economic effects of gastronomic tourism "Kebab Bonab" as a geographical phenomenon in rural areas of Bonab County.
Methods: The present study is of an applied type and quantitative in nature that uses the survey method. The problem, background, and theoretical framework were examined through field observations and a library study. Data related to the economic effects of gastronomic tourism were collected by determining indicators and completing a questionnaire by 242 villagers, and analyzed using one-sample t-test, cluster analysis, spatial autocorrelation, and weighted geographic regression.
Results: The tourist attraction of "Bonab Kebab" has led to the development of employment, marketing, and sales of local products of the villagers, as well as increasing the income of residents. On the other hand, the spatial and human proximity factor has been among the main factors in attracting the economic benefits of tourism in the rural settlements of the study area. In these settlements, the necessary human resources, having jobs in restaurants and Bonab Kebab dishes and related jobs in the city of Bonab or in the nearest rural settlement, have played a major role in attracting economic benefits.
Conclusions: Fair and appropriate distribution of benefits from the tourism industry can improve the quality of life of residents, strengthen community participation, and even make this type of industry sustainable. In order to achieve such a function, it is important to understand the spatial distribution of its benefits and plan for it in rural settlements.

The village as the base of the Asian mode of production

Maumeh Rafie

Objective: With the formation of the discourse of the Asian mode of production formulated by Marx and Engels in the late 19th century, and based on geographical, social, and political components, the village was recognized as the main base and the top of the theory of the Asian mode of production. Following the placement in the process, in which the village is the validity and fundamental characteristic of the theory, relations emerged that can be interpreted collectively in a comprehensive and superior connection with rural geography. This research aims to explain the position of the village in the theory of the Asian mode of production by reviewing the theory and different interpretations of various sciences on the subject of the position of the village.
Methods: The statistical population of this study is the documentation of various sciences, especially historical studies, economic sciences, social sciences, and sometimes geographical sciences, related to the theory of the Asian mode of production. For this purpose, related studies, especially in African regions and the countries of China, Korea, Iran, and Russia, which the study of the discourse of the Asian mode of production focuses on, have been reviewed. The research method in this study is interpretive, with a review of examples and evidence adopted from the texts.
Results: By putting together about 80 exemplary witnesses, seven core and focal categories were obtained from which the village can be interpreted as the main context for the formation of the Asian production theory. An authoritarian society, influenced by centralized power, dominated by a subsistence economy, self-sufficiency, one-way management, and a closed social order, is also characteristic of rural societies in their Eastern (Asian) context.
Conclusions: In societies where the discourse of Asian production has been discussed, the village is first the main context for the formation of the theory of Asian production; then, in interpretations of the Asian production method, the village is known as an authoritarian society, influenced by centralized power, dominated by a subsistence economy, self-sufficient, with one-sided management, and with a closed social order.