Ehsan Mokaram Zahed, Roya Eshraghi Samani, Bita Rahimibadr, Alireza Noshary,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (1-2026)
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to analyze and prioritize the effects of support facilities and marketing strategies on the economic performance of rural livestock farms in Khorasan Razavi Province.
Methods: This study employed the Analytic Network Process (ANP) multi-criteria decision-making model, which enables the examination of internal relationships and interdependencies between criteria and sub-criteria. The conceptual framework comprised 7 main criteria and 25 sub-criteria, developed to provide a precise explanation of factors influencing economic performance. Required data were collected through a pairwise comparison questionnaire completed by 237 livestock farmers across various counties in Khorasan Razavi Province.
Results: Results from data analysis revealed that three criteria—"support facilities," "economic costs," and "marketing strategies"—hold the highest importance in explaining the economic performance of livestock units. At the sub-criteria level, "feed costs" received the highest weight, indicating the substantial cost burden this input places on livestock farmers. Additionally, "market access" and "amount of loans received" ranked second and third respectively, demonstrating the importance of effective sales and adequate financial resources for development and sustainability of operations. Other significant sub-criteria include "livestock product insurance" and "establishing cooperatives," which play key roles in risk reduction and marketing improvement.
Conclusions: The research findings indicate that enhancing the economic performance of rural livestock farming requires focusing on optimizing support policies, reducing input costs, developing marketing infrastructure, and strengthening insurance coverage. These results can serve as a solid scientific foundation for decision-makers and policymakers in the agricultural sector to formulate development-oriented, targeted, and realistic programs.
