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Showing 591 results for Type of Study: Research

Hossin Heydari, Qumars Zarafshani, Khadije Moradi,
Volume 4, Issue 11 (5-2015)
Abstract

Introduction:
Rural development requires special attention regarding human forces .Rural settlers as a prime human resources related to agriculture are a major leverage as far as rural development is concerned. Lack of social capital is being considered as missing chain with respect to economic growth and development in underdeveloped countries. It is agrued that social capital influences sustainable development from different aspact in developing countries including Iran. This is well justified by existance of their transient, unstable economy. Social capital is known world wide as a major determinent of rural development. However, this is not well experienced in Iran's rural geographical space. In other word, planners and policy makers overlooked this issue. This is being considered as the most prominent vacume as far as the rural development litriture is concerned. Both social capital and development possess complex nature. This in turn demands comprehensive and deep study. This could well be done via application of qualitative approach. This study aims to invastigate Farsinj rural development taken into account social capital in order to come up with associated development model.
Research method:
This paper applied qualitative approach using foundamental theory method. This theory is being considered as one of the qualitative research methods. It ia besed on inductive approach using real situation for determination of the components of a problem. Statistical society was comprised of key aware folks in Farsinj village located in songhor koliayee which were chosen through targeted snow ball sampling technique. The study area is center of parsineh which is located in cold mountainous climatic zone. Based on 1390 census, it houses over 2355 with 663 households. Data gathering were done via individual semi structured interview as well as concentrated groups and direct observation resulted in field notes. The application of multi data gathering techniques in qualitative research named trianglizaition increase the viability of the result. Compiling fifteen of those interviews, led to theoretical saturation at least after one hour. The resultant data in three stage that is open coding (conceptualizing and investigating), axis coding and selective coding, were analyzed. Open coding led to formation of 16 classes. The relationships between components were explored through application of axis coding. This led to formation of external social capital as a prime class or phenomena based on paradigm model. This model includes casual conditions and backgrounds, intervening conditions, as well as interaction, strategies and consequences.
Discussion and conclusion:
Farsinj village located in songhor koliayee is being known as one of the typical and pilot village in Kermanshah province. Based on the investigation, high level of education, number of existing occupations as well as the rural settler’s level of commitment, responsibility and the feeling of being served with regard to following the villages affairs are among the factors responsible for Farsinj being known as spectacular villages. It is argued that the feeling of being rival, high level of settler’s motivation and engagement of some of the folks in high ranking governmental possessions all would be important components formation of external social capital in the study area. Trust in outsiders, the existence of agriculture bank, high schools as well as getting married to the males outside their locality all led to formation of better opportunities for investment in the study area. All these factors have led to some positive outcomes including the provision of services to neighboring villages and being well known village in the area. Make it short; the level of development of the study area is highly associated with the formation of external social capital.

Mojtaba Ghadiri Masoum, Mohamadreza Rezvani, Mahmoud Jomepour, Hamidreza Baghiani,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Poverty is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity. It is said that poverty is almost related to natural resources, while it is also because of some other factors like natural and human capitals. Villagers are considered among the poorest and most vulnerable within human societies, especially in the countries of the third world. If the purpose of development is obviously that of poverty alleviation and eradication through employment generation for the rural and urban poor, supplying the minimum of basic requirements acceptable to everyone, increase of productivity, causing more balance between geographic areas and socio-economic classes, decentralization and people involvement in the process of decision-making, having emphasis on collective and national self-confidence, finding balance and the recovery of living conditions, then we can consider the rural communities as one of the most significant factors causing the above objectives come true. So, rural development plays a vital role in achieving the overall objectives of development at the national level. Approaches and paradigms are always provided by scientists and theorists to assist us achieving the above objectives. In 1980s, sustainable livelihoods (LS) and sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) was proposed to be used a new approach in poverty eradication. The main emphasis of this approach was based on a comprehensive and integrated thought for poverty eradication and rural development. In a short time, this approach could attract the attention of many researches. Since, livelihood capitals is an important aspect of sustainable livelihoods approach and because of the important role of these assets in the livelihood of families, especially rural ones whose condition is influenced by tourism activities, in this research we decided to investigate the impact of tourism activities on livelihood capitals in mountain tourism villages of Bala-Taloqan in Taloqan County so we can find out the answer to the question that which villages are better in the case of this kind of capitals.
Methodology
As a city of Alborz Province, Taloqan County is located at a distance of 90 km from the center of the province and within the northwest of it. In 2012, the city had 2 parts of central and Bala-Taloqan. It was also consisted of 8212 households and a population of 23765. Bala-Taloqan as the study case of this research consists of two rural districts: Kenar-rood and Joestan (central district) with 48 residential villages. In this paper, we have selected 10 mountain villages which have been affected by tourism. The purpose of this study is to investigate the issue of prioritization of capitals resulting from tourism activities in mountain tourism villages of the district of top Talogan, among inhabited households using analytical- descriptive method with an emphasis on library work, field studies and completing the questionnaires. Meanwhile, hierarchical Filler Triangle was used as a model to weighting each indicator along with Oreste method for ranking and prioritization of the mountain tourism villages in terms of investigating the condition of tourism assets and capitals.
Discussion and Conclusion
Considering livelihood capitals, Galird has the best and the village of Manglan has the worst condition. Galirad village, according to its proper position relative to the connecting roads and its distinctive tourist attractions, i.e. the old house of Ayatollah Taleqani, enjoys a certain reputation that has caused more tourists go there. Moreover, Guidance plan has been already implemented in the village that is important in the improvement of connecting roads quality and making easy-access roads. After Galird, Karkbud village is located in the second place. Its famous waterfall is the most important attraction of the village which has given it a national reputation. Although, it has located at an altitude of 2200 meters and it is difficult to access it, the attractive waterfall has compensated for this limitation and attracted tourists. Additionally, the village is very rich in terms of natural capital, but tourism has not developed enough and has failed to make the promotion of other capitals. The results of interviews conducted with residents indicate that they are dissatisfied with tourists there and think of them as a contributing factor to environmental degradation and the rise of social abnormalities. Joestan has also dedicated to the third place of this ranking. Vicinity to Shahrood River and the presence of tomb shrine of Haron the son of Muses, are the most important attractions of this village. Although it is the center of Top Talogan district, it has failed to accomplish its central role. So, many people have left the village over time as even the tomb shrine as a strong religious attraction with lodging facilities has not been able to properly accomplish its role of attracting tourists. For this reason, it is only social capitals, and partially, financial capitals, which have perfect situations here. Other villages have similar status and in spite of having human and natural attractions they have not been successful enough in collecting capitals. Of course, it must be mentioned that in this district tourism is mostly found in the form of Daily tourism and second home tourism by a more percentage of Daily tourists than the second-home ones. Because in the mountain villages studied, due to the lack of access to adequate lands with sufficient slopes in order to construct housing units, there have always been lots of limitations for constructing second houses for the non-native. Additionally, in some villages such as Karkbood, native people refuse to sell lands to the non-native and this could affect the status of financial capital of the village.

Saleh Shahrokhi Sardou, Mehdi Nooripoor,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
The concept of quality of life has been emerged in theoretical literature and press in early 1960s, it has turned to be one of the interested issues in social science and in recent years, it has been a base for modern differentiation and classification of countries. Improving quality of life in a special place or for special people or groups is always the focusing concern to plan makers. Improving quality of life could be followed by other dimensions of development such as social, economic and physical ones. In this way, rural areas need some studies related to quality of life. These studies should include related aspects to quality of life in the village, reduction of geographical exclusion and accessibility to basic needs of life. Moreover, the results of studies on quality of life could be helpful in assessment of policies, ranking the locations, codification of management strategies and urban and rural planning which can facilitate understanding and prioritization of socio-economic issues for plan makers and managers to improve people's quality of life. Considering that urban growth and urbanization are the most obvious social, economic changes in recent times, urbanization rapidly spread so that this phenomenon has limited most of the opportunities which can improve quality of life for the villages. However, in many rural areas in Iran, despite of different changes in case of improving quality of life, we are still far from the ideal situation. This condition is more obvious in the areas that most of the population lives in the villages; Jiroft County located in Kerman Province is an example. Therefore, this study aims to assess factors affecting quality of life in villages located in Jiroft.
Methodology
According to its aim, this study is a practical one and regarding its data collection method, it is a survey which uses questionnaires as the tool of data collection; The face validity is confirmed by faculty members in Yasouj University and Shiraz University; to examine its validity, Pilot study is conducted as the pre-test outside the study population, on the residents in Ali-Abad village, Jiroft; Calculation of Cronbach's alfa for different factors (from 0.71 to 0.89) is estimated that suggests the reliability of this assessment tool. In this study, the unit of analysis includes the householder. Furthermore, according to government census, the population was 4243 households among them 350 households have been chosen using Krejcie & Morgan random sampling table as the population of this study; samples have been chosen according to each village population and geographical region according to the classes. Data analysis was performed using SPSS.
Discussion and Conclusion
This study is the assessment of each factors of quality of life in studied villages from householders' point of view. According to the obtained average value of 2.75, analytical results in the case of social factor are assessed which is under the average. According to the obtained average value of 3.43, in the case of social security, the studied households' condition has been estimated more than the average and findings related to average comparison in this factor shows that Delfard village has the worst condition and Sarbijan village has the best condition. According to the average value of 0.74 in the case of housing factor, the housing status in the studied villages was estimated more than the average. The results of average comparison showed that Halil village is on the highest level and Esfandegheh village is on the lowest level in the case of average factor. According to the average value of 20.38 which is related to the third group that means most of the studied population, income factor showed that most of studied population have average income and among them, comparing other studied villages, residents of Khaton-abad village have the highest level in the case of average income and it is different from other studied villages. Next factor is wealth which is assessed by five subset. According to the average value of 0.41 in this factor, it can be said that the level of wealth in studied villages is lower than average level and among them, Delfard and Ganj-abad villages are at the lowest level and Esfandegheh and Sarbijan villages are at the highest level. Next factor is per capita household expenditure on clothing; the result of analyzing this factor shows that given the frequency of 192 people (54.9%), per capita expenditure on clothing for each person is between 200 to 300 hundred Tomans in a year and comparing to other villages, Delfard village has a better condition regarding the average level of this factor. The results in the nutrition factor shows that villages located in this region are divided to four grades regarding the average calories intake per gram in food by households. Among them, Delfard village is completely different from other villages and in terms of calories amount that its residents consume, this village has a better condition. The last studied factor is people's satisfaction of objective dimensions of quality of life. According to the obtained average value of 3.15 which is higher than theoretical average (number 3), considering this factor, the status of studied households is assessed higher than the average level. The results of average comparison in this factor show that all the villages are divided to four classes regarding the average value of the considered factor. Among them Dolat-abad and Ganj-abad villages have the worst and Esfandegheh and Delfard villages have the best condition.

Ahmad Assadzadeh, Habibeh Imani, Mohammad Shali,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Agriculture sector is actually known as an economic sector, as it is said that economic growth would be impossible in the absence of agriculture growth. Nowadays, by using accurate scientific researches as an inspiration source and investigating environment potentials and capabilities of every area we can achieve comprehensive agricultural development and principles. In this way, identification of development and underdevelopment levels of agricultural zones seems essential to start out to and make development planning of sustainable development. As compared to other places in our country, East Azerbaijan province has more appropriate sources of agriculture. So that about 19.2 percent of its total geographical area belongs to the cultivated lands of agricultural products. In this regard (i.e. the ratio of cultivated lands to the total geographical expansion of the area), East Azerbaijan has occupied the 12th grade of all provinces. In addition, after those provinces of Khorasan, Fars and Khuzestan, it has got the vastest cultivated lands. Investigation of combination of occupations based on the results from general census of population and housing in 1390 reveals the fact that the agriculture contribution of the province is about 21.3% which is above its average (19%) in the country. However, comparing different counties of the province we can find dramatic differences in terms of agricultural activities and its related sub-sectors. In this study, we use several indicators to investigate spatial inequalities associated with the development of agricultural sector in different counties of East Azerbaijan separated into several parts of agriculture, garden and animal husbandry and the mechanization level.
Methodology
Considering the subject of the study, it is an analytical- descriptive one. Different counties of East Azerbaijan Province identified based on administrative - political divisions, have been chosen as statistical population of this survey. To determine its underdevelopment level and inequalities, 28 indicators have been used in four different sectors including agriculture, garden, animal husbandry and mechanization that can be observed with reference to the statistical evidence of agricultural background in East Azerbaijan. In this survey, the method of factor analysis in SPSS environment has been used to identify modulation index and its factors to be used as input in numerical taxonomy method. Finally, using hierarchical clustering method, these counties were classified according to the factor of clustering development rankings. This part of information was later appeared as a plan in the environment of GIS software. Indicators consist of: (1) Agriculture indicators: The ratio of irrigated lands to the total area of lands, method of operation by vine crops, forage crops, vegetables and cucurbits, industrial products, cereals, grains, irrigated and rain-fed wheat, irrigated and rain-fed barely. (2) Garden indicators: method of operation by garden products, dried fruits, stone fruits, granulated and pome fruits. (3) Mechanization indicators: the ratio of tractors, electro pumps, motor pumps, combine, tiller and distributed fertilizer to agricultural lands. (3) Animal husbandry indicators: The ratio of sheep and lamb, large animals, meat production, chicken production, egg production and milk production to the rural population.
Discussion and Conclusion
Using statistic reports of agricultural activities in East Azerbaijan Province in 2010, we could make the standardization process of 28 indicators in the forum of four main parts consisting of 11 indicators in agriculture sector, 5 in garden sector, 6 in mechanization sector and other 6 in husbandry sector. Factor analysis was done on each of these sectors in the environment of SPSS software that reduced them into 3,1,2,2 factors in the same order that were later used as inputs of the numerical taxonomy method. Classification of the counties was done based on development rankings of each sector. Finally, the statistical method of cluster analysis was applied to the counties of the province to be gotten classified in four clusters by identifying homogeneous cities. Counties found in the first class include Malekan, Bonab, Miyane, then in the second class: Shabestar, Maraghe, BostanAbad, Tabriz, Oscoo, Azarshahr, Ajabshir, in the third class: Sarab, Hashtrood, Ahar, Marand, Haris, and finally in the fourth class: Jolfa, Varzaghan, Kalibar and Charoimagh. Agriculture is an economic sector itself, as it is said that economic growth would be impossible in the absence of agriculture growth. Nowadays, by using accurate scientific researches as an inspiration source and investigating environment potentials and capabilities of every area we can achieve comprehensive agricultural development and principles. A remarkable, tremendous difference can be found in agricultural activities of different areas and counties of the province. East Azerbaijan is made of a half developed western and a half underdeveloped eastern part. The half developed western consists of great centers of population with a high rate of civilization, medium and large industrial centers, main centers of service activities and a large amount of agriculture and garden products. Whereas, in eastern half despite its mineral-tourist potentials, agriculture still continues in its traditional form of rain fed with industrial workshops which are small and scattered and small villages of low population in the suburb of small towns. Developed counties are provided with strong communication networks, especially in the route of railways or in the nearby area. On one hand there are low land slopes in the west of the province and on the ther hand vast and fertile plains like Tabriz and Maraghe have changed the place to a natural absorption for doing more activities on. While the Eastern half is mountainous with more potentials in livestock and animal husbandry than the Western part.

Hamdollah Sojasi Qeidari, Hamid Shayan, Zahra Nurbakhsh Razmi,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Rural areas face various challenges in Iran; one of the most important challenges isb economic weakness. Since entrepreneurship can remove many major challenges (such as unemployment, low level of income, lack of economic diversification) in rural areas and it can affect other aspects of rural life positively, entrepreneurship and job creation are the most important plans and strategies for rural improvement to resolve economic challenges. Entrepreneurship in village leads to job creation, increase in income, wealth creation, improvement of quality of life and it is also helpful for local people participating in economic activities. The agriculture section in most third world countries cannot provide enough job opportunities and income to meet the needs of rural areas with high population density as a result of low level of productivity of land and labor, so non-farm entrepreneurship is considered as the suitable strategy to improve job creation and increase rural income. Promoting diversification of economic activities in rural areas especially in non-farm section leads to a profound impact on the creation of entrepreneurial thinking in rural areas; Since for landless people or those who own a small size of land, earning farming income and this amount of income does not meet their needs, non-farm entrepreneurship and as a result diversification of non-farm economy (or related to farm economy) can create job and income for them. Undoubtedly, job creation in non-farm section prevents labor force as the major economic capital from exiting the villages which is the main reason of rural-to-urban migration growth and many socio-economic problems. Based on this fact, this study aims to analyze the importance of non-farm entrepreneurshipb in improving the quality of life in villages of Shandiz area and also to determine that in which dimensions and aspects of rural life considered by entrepreneurs in their plans, the farm based entrepreneurship activities have the most impacts. The research questions include "how much farm based entrepreneurship activities could improve the quality of life in the villages in economic, social and environmental dimensions?" and "in which dimensions do entrepreneurship activities have the most impacts?"
Methodology
According to its aim, this is a practical and developmental study and regarding its methodology it is descriptive-analytic one. For theoretical modeling, descriptive and documentary methods have been used by reviewing theoretical literature related to rural development, quality of life, entrepreneurship and non-farm entrepreneurship studies. So, the criteria and indicators have been chosen according to theoretical frameworks and works done by other researches and also on the basis of its aim. The analytic unit in this study is the non-farmer householder who participates in creative non-farming activities in studied villages. Residents of villages in Shandiz area, Binaloud County, including Shandiz and Abardeh villages with population of 19667 in 1390 are the study population. According to the conducted field study, among 18 villages which their populations are more than 20 households, 6 villages with the population of 13217 are considered as study samples and in these villages non-farm entrepreneurship activities have been done more than other villages. To study the impacts of non-farm entrepreneurship activities in the studied area, samples should be chosen according to the number of households in the region; regarding the total number of households, sample households in the sample villages are 3776 households and as a result, according to Cochran Formula (using 0.06 margin of error) 249 households have been chosen to complete the questionnaires regarding the householder's point of view. The first level of sample selection among householders in the studied area is according to an analogy between villages and the second level is random selection. Eventually, information extracted from the questionnaires has been analyzed using statistical methods (Pearson, Spearman and Chi-square correlation tests to the case with independent group and step by step regression analysis) performed in SPSS.
Discussion and Conclusion
It was found that, non-farm activities have various impacts on economic, social and environmental dimensions. Chi-square test to the case with independent group was performed to analyze villager's point of view regarding non-farm entrepreneurship activities; for most indicators, a meaningful level of significance less than 0.05 and the relationship has been proven. For assessment of economic impacts of entrepreneurship on quality of life, indicators such as income, employment status and economic justice have been used. The relative distribution for answering question suggests that the average value of economic changes is 3.46. This average is defined in the range from 1 to 5 and it shows that the economic status is higher than the average level. For assessment of social impacts, indicators such as social capital, social participation, population stability, satisfaction of access and personal welfare have been used. The average of social changes is 3.06 and it shows that social status is higher than the average level. The average value of environmental changes is 3.38 and it shows that the environmental status is higher than the average level. It has to be mentioned that for assessment of non-farm entrepreneurship activities, some indicators have been used including good job opportunities, government investment, product quality, education, availability and changeability of land use. The average value of non-farm entrepreneurship activities is 3.41 which show this status is higher than the average. In conclusion, it can be said that non-farm entrepreneurship activities improve the quality of life in economic, social and environmental dimensions.

Roya Eshraghi Samani, Farzad Sheykh Mohammadi, Alireza Poursaeed,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
The lack of investment in agriculture system of Iran, especially in family farmingoperation, has made this system vulnerable to natural and unnatural disasters andhazards. In this way, Keshavarzi bank is one of the institutions that plays a critical role in financing the agriculture system. In order to meet credit needs of farmers, Keshavarzi bank makes use of two main sources of saving mobilization and installment collection of due-date credit granted to the farmers. Due to the small amount of savings of this bank, compared with others, installment collection of due-date credit granted to farmers is the main financial resource to fulfill the desires of credit applicants. The nonrepayment of facilities or making delays in refunds will result in disturbance in fulfilling bank commitments. Any negligence in on-time repayment of due-date credits by farmers will cause in yield decline of collecting granted credits and financial resources, consequently. Therefore, regarding the on-time collection of granted credits as a main issue in the surviving of credit institutions together with the ever-growing rate of nonrepayment in Keshavarzi bank and high dependency of financial resources on collected credits, investigating effective factors contributing to the non-repayment of bank facilities is something essential. Due to the significance of credit granted by Keshavarzi bank and its non-repayment as one of the main reasons of the limitations applied in farming facilities in many countries, lots of researches have been done in this field to find a way and solve the existing problems. In these researches several issues related to the effectiveness of repaying agriculture loans have been taken into consideration to illustrate an appropriate approach for making well-planned decisions in coping with problems like this. Generally, researches indicate that there are different factors affecting non-repayment of facilities by Keshavarzi bank which can be classified in the context of economic, technical, financial or social features or in job specifications or personal ones.
Methodology
This is an applied research which consists of quantitative nature and among those of non-experimental ones in terms of degree of the control of variables. Data collecting has been done in the same way as surveys. Statistical population including borrowers of several branches of Keshavarzi bank (N= 360) in Ilam county. Determining the size of samples, Krejcie and Morgan table has been used according to which the sample size of 186 people has been calculated. To get the samples for questioner accomplishment, stratified sampling method has been used. The questionnaire face validity (based on the comments by faculty members of Azad University) and reliability of the research tools have been determined by the use of Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 82%). The variable correlation has been calculated using Eta test. Effective factors contributing to the non-repayment of granted credits have been analyzed by stepwise forward method of logistic regression. Meanwhile, the data were processed and analyzed using SPSS statistical software.
Discussion and Conclusion
According to the survey, a vast majority of the granted funds has been devoted to livestock activities. These activities, considering the geographical and climate conditions of Ilam County, is among the investing priorities of its authorities and inhabitants. Moreover, the range of credit granted to most borrowers (66.6 %) has been from 5 to 30 million Tomans. The average time of repayment in the sampling case was about 6.91 years regarding 82.25% of borrowers repaying them in a period of 5 to 10 years. Present findings indicate that 63.44% of borrowers haven’t repaid their loans yet. It is only about 36.56% of borrowers who have paid them on-time. The results of the correlation coefficient test on dependent variables of repaying status and independent variables suggest that there is a high impact connection between the amount of personal  deposits at the time of taking the loan and the amount of credit, referral number assigned to the bank to take the loan, and non-repayment of the granted credits. Stepwise forward method of logistic regression has been used here to investigate effective factors contributing to the non-repayment of granted credits. Variables including the proceeds of agricultural activities, the amount of bank profit from granted credits, the referral number assigned to the bank to take the loan, the amount of installment, the amount of personal deposits at the time of taking the loan, any record of loan taking, the pay-off period and the supervising quality of bank inspectors were separately entered into the regression in seven different steps to predict about 0.768 percent of changes of dependent variable ( probability of non-repayment of granted facilities). Additionally, based on results from the regression analysis, any increase in the bank profits from received facilities, the referral number assigned to the bank to take the loan and the amount of taken credits will cause in the increase of the probability of non-repayment of the taken loan. As on the other hand, increasing of annuity from agricultural activities, the amount of personal deposit at the time of taking the loan, the pay-off period, the number of inspectors' supervision and record of loan taking will lead to the decrease of the probability of non-repayment.

Ahmad Yaghoubi Farani, Sara Jalilian,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Nowadays, the importance of female's participation in the realization of development objectives is remarkable and in the absence of participations like this, there will be no way ahead of development. This is a matter of particular consideration in the rural and agricultural sectors which attracts attention as one of the essential factors contributing to the sustainable development of these sectors. Many countries have experienced entrepreneurship as one of the most effective procedures to decrease the rate of unemployment. As it helped developed and developing countries to survive from unemployment and then lead women to reveal their skills and abilities in different fields and step into the space of business to make massive changes in economic development of the world. Considering restrictions on investing made by governments, it is a good way to confront the intricate of women's unemployment through the entrepreneurship of domestic occupations. Statistics show that the rate of economic exposure and unemployment in Kermanshah Province is about 38% and 13%, respectively. Furthermore, limited economic participation of rural females in spite of the importance of their self-occupation to facilitate the achievement of sustainable development is of great importance to create appropriate circumstances, equipment and infrastructures that make them empowered. Since rural women of West Islam-Abad are about the 45% of the total population of the area that play a key role in the political, social and economic development of the county, together with the great impact of domestic occupations on the increase of entrepreneurship opportunities and the improvement of occupation status, we have set out the research to identify social and economic consequences of domestic occupations of rural females in West Islam-Abad.
Methodology
This research has been done by the aim of investigating social and economic impacts of domestic occupations of rural women in the County of West Islam-Abad. Statistical population consists of 200 members of occupied women in rural areas of West IslamAbad among them only 140 have been accidentally chosen by Krejcie & Morgan sampling table. Required data have been collected by questionnaires whose content validity has been confirmed by professors and experts. Assessing the reliability of the questionnaires, a number of 30 questionnaires were done in the process of pretesting by rural women and the average number of Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated about α = 88% for different parts of the questionnaires.
Discussion and Conclusion
According to the results of factor analysis, the most important economic impacts of domestic occupation of rural women on their life can be possibly classified into four general groups including the improvement of a family economic status, promotion of economic knowledge and awareness, making more economic independency, increase in the power of risks and innovation. Then the cumulative variance determined by these four was the extent of 64.45%. It should also be mentioned that the most important social consequences of these occupations on the life of rural women is made of five main factors of increase in their social and technical skills, tendency to get information, development of institutional communications and development of team activities which the cumulative variance of 68.44% was determined by them. Women consider a significant contrast between job and family values that sometimes the integration of job duties and home tasks cause lots of problems in their responsibility and job performances. Because, based on the rural area culture, everything related to the children and family needs is among those inevitable affairs of women. In this research, several suggestions are getting showed to help create and improve the opportunities for participating in domestic occupations and entrepreneurship by rural women regarding to the rural areas culture and circumstances. The most important suggestions are to organize training courses in rural areas that can make changes in their cultural attitudes toward women's capabilities, doing things to increase rural women's knowledge and awareness, making facilities to create and improve their participation in domestic occupations and the recognition and introduction of successful entrepreneur women as role models to motivate the owners of domestic occupations to make progress in business.

Lida Sharafi, Amir-Hossein Ali-Baygi,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
In recent years, increase in demand as a result of world population and industrialization lead to demand for the use of natural resources. This issue causes environmental problems and challenges. Therefore, sustainable development is considered by different researchers. Sustainable development has various dimensions such as economic, social, cultural, political and environmental ones. Regarding modern trend in sustainable development, all dimensions are considered in relation to the issue of environmental dimension of development and the environment protection and its resources issue is one of the important dimensions in sustainable development. Other developmental dimensions have direct or indirect relation to this dimension. Considering this, rural regions have high degree of dependency to these natural resources to supply their basic needs. Therefore, to achieve national development objectives, environmental sustainability in these regions is of great importance to prevent desertification, confront with dangers caused by drought, prevent soil erosion and degradation, maintain natural resources and also microclimates. However, in many villages of the country, the environment is facing severe threats such as desertification, deforestation and destruction of meadows, agricultural land-use change, groundwater decline, and landslide and so on. So, regarding to existing problems in the villages of the country and environmental challenges, the necessity and importance of the environmental status assessment in rural regions is obvious before any planning. Accordingly, this study has been done to present a pattern for assessment of rural environmental sustainability in Shervineh village.
Methodology
This study is a descriptive correlational survey. All Shervineh residents took part in this study (N=840), in which 264 people were chosen randomly according to Bartlett Table as the statistical samples. For data collection, questionnaires had been used in this study. On the whole, 185 questionnaires had been collected and analyzed. The validity of questionnaire has been determined by many specialists in the fields like rural development and environmental field and the content validity of the questionnaire has been confirmed. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alfa test has been used in which the reliability coefficient of 90% is achieved. Data analysis has been done by the use of SPSS 16 and LISREL 8.8 and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).
Discussion and Conclusion
The results of factor analysis shows that six factors (implementation of environmental plans in the village, participation of all villagers, contribution of people and local institutions and also national organization supporting the environmental issues, environmental beliefs, training necessary reactions in the case of destructive activities against environment, having prior experiences and indigenous knowledge of the rural environment) are effective in environmental sustainability assessment. Each of these factors is discussed according to their importance in environmental sustainability. Participation of all villagers is a necessary and an important factor to achieve rural environmental sustainability. In this regard, findings by Golshiri and Saraee (2010), Ahmadvand and Nooripour (2010) and Masika & Joekes (1997) showed that promoting public participation in the process of development, protection, restoration and sustainable utilization of natural and environmental resources are important to achieve a sustainable environmental development. One of the indicators in assessment of environmental sustainability is indigenousknowledge and prior experiences of rural environment which are confirmed by factor analysis. In fact, indigenous knowledge is suitable for environment management and this is because of knowledge coming out of the natural environment of the region. Another factor is environmental beliefs and values (ethics) of villagers which provides a base to development of environmental sustainability. In this regard, findings by Menatizadeh and Zamani (2012), and Ogunkan (2010) showed that ethical norms are the factors which have the most impressions on the formation process of environmental sustainability attitude. Contribution of groups, local institutions and national organizations supporting environmental issues is a factor which provides a base to environmental sustainability. This findings are confirmed by Hosseini (2002) and Sadough Vanini et al (2008) studies. According to these researchers' findings, to achieve environmental sustainability, local institution's activities are needed. Factor analysis results showed that implementation of environmental plans in the village is necessary for the environmental sustainability assessment. Various studies (Mozafar et.al (2008); Safaeeyan et.al (2002); Motiee Langeroudi and Yari (2010)) showed that implementation of development plans caused negative environmental impacts. This is the case, because the codification and implementation of these plans should be the result of studies by various specialists meanwhile plan makers and plan executors act according to available information and superficial observations. One of the indicators in environmental sustainability assessment is holding educational workshops to disscuss consequences of destructive activities against environment. In this case, we should know that one of the best strategies to overcome environmental challenges is training and educating human force with desired environmental attitude and corresponded to sustainability. In this field, Lichtenberg & Zimmerman (1999) and Abbaspour et.al (2003) believed that getting knowledge and information from different sources is effective on environmental behavior.


Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract


Fatemeh Kiyani, Rahime Ansari, Ahmad Taghdisi,
Volume 4, Issue 12 (9-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
On one hand, economic development as a fundamental section in every country's policies has a close relation to industry and technology, and on the other hand it is related to environmental pollutions. Considering the fundamental role of industry in the process of development in developing countries, the relation between industrial activities and the rate of pollution caused by industry section are of great importance. According to potential and capacities of cement industry, it can causes a tremendous improvement and flourish in terms of other "requisite" and "prerequisite" activities as well as its critical role in the case of the "volume" and the "value" of non-oil export, however, to reach these economic benefits, environmental damages caused by cement companies are inevitable. These damages include air pollution, water pollution and pollution of underground water in the region and so on. Emissions from the cement industry include particles, compounds of carbon, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, among them particles are more important because they are more produced and emitted in the environment.
Methodology
This study is a descriptive-analytical survey, and questionnaires had been used as the data collection method. The population in this study includes 2300 residents of Shahanjari village, according to Morgan's Table, 175 people had been chosen randomly as the study population. Questionnaires as the tool of data collection are divided to four parts and include environmental, agricultural, social-cultural and economic issues to assess impacts of Cement Company on environment and economic (21 variables). For data analysis, Frequency Distribution Tables, Average Statistics, Factor Analysis method and Correlation Coefficient had been used.
Discussion and Conclusion
Increase in regional employment rate and also economic development is the important positive impacts of Cement Company in this region. Of course, Cement Company have negative impacts on the region including destruction of a large part of agricultural lands in the village, yield decline of agricultural production and increase in the number of people with respiratory diseases. Although, farming is the main occupation, it is also severely affected by the company using up the water resources in the region and agriculture is confronted to the decline in production. Certainly, economic impacts of Cement Company are more than these and other positive economic impacts of Cement Company include increase in facilities and services in the region, more opportunities to get second job in the region, and improvement of the villagers' income. From a social point of view, other considered issues as the result of the construction of this company are residents' satisfaction, improvement of rural roads, decrease in rural-urban migration which have positive impacts in the region on the long term and this leads to population stability and avoiding irregular migration. In conclusion, it can be said that on one hand, Cement Company had a lot of positive impacts, on the other hand it caused reduction of farmers' income which is the direct result of Cement Company location, farming is encountered with some problems, it reduces green area expansion in the region and most of farmers are not satisfied of these conditions.

Masomeh Jamshidi, Seiyed Hedaiatollah Nouri Zamanabadi, Seiyed Eskandar Seiydai Gelsefidi, Dariush Rahimi,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Drought is a natural disaster resulting in many damages to human life and natural ecosystems which is different from other kinds of disasters such as flood, hurricanes and earthquakes. As a result of this phenomenon, the level of surface water and ground water decrease dramatically and it is followed by various negative impacts on all aspects of villagers' life especially on economic aspect and agriculture structure. Frequent droughts result in more and more vulnerability of rural societies for facing present droughts, in a way that in some societies the basic challenge for many vulnerable households regarding the drought is survival. The economy of studied villages in Sirvan and Chardavol counties is dependent on agriculture activity. In the past years and before the occurrence of drought, these two counties were considered as a focal point for rice cultivation in Ilam province. In recent years, agriculture section is affected severely and water lands turned to be arid during the year because of climate changes and following that the occurrence of drought and its impacts on water resources, such as drying of seasonal and permanent rivers (Chardavol River) or decrease in agriculture water in the studied counties. According to the agricultural statistics released by Agriculture Organization of Ilam province, proportion of area under irrigated cereals as the dominant cultivation in two counties, Sirvan and Chardavol, in 74-75 crop year was 1530 and 6124 hectare respectively which has been decreased to 35 and 830 hectare in 90-91 crop year. These changes result in many problems in social and economic structure of rural districts in these counties. These problems in the studied rural societies are increase in unemployment, decrease in agricultural productions, decrease in income level and saving of households, increase of fake jobs. So, according to the necessity and importance of the issue, this survey aims to study economic impacts of drought on rural districts which are dependent on agriculture activities in Sirvan and Chardavol in order to answer the question that "What are the impacts of drought on economy of rural districts which are dependent on agriculture activities in Sirvan and Chardavol?"
Methodology
This survey is a descriptive- analytic one. The population includes all the farmers of Sirvan and Chardavol counties (N= 8099) and regarding the condition of the studied society, we used multistage hierarchical sampling method. Therefore, after determining the samples by using Cochran's Formula which was calculated 367 people, we determined the portion of each rural district and available village out of samples using multi-stage hierarchical sampling method and according to portion principle for each county's portion (103 people from Sirvan county and 264 people from Chardavol). Therefore, after determining the samples by using Cochran's Formula which was calculated 367 people, we determined the portion of each rural district and available villages out of samples using multi-stage hierarchical sampling method and according to portion principle for each county's portion (103 people from Sirvan county and 264 people from Chardavol). Questionnaires were the data collection tools in this survey. The questionnaires are divided to two parts: the first part includes questions about personal and social characteristics of the farmers such as age, sex, education, and their agriculture activities' experiences, water resources before and after drought, the amount and the type of owned land. Second part includes items in the case of drought impacts on economy of rural districts. Since the target villages are dependent on agriculture activities and farming, therefore, the resulted structural and functional impacts of drought on agriculture section such as areas under agriculture production, production, the process of planting and harvesting the crops, income and farming costs, investment and savings by farmers, employment in agriculture section and the number of employees are considered as indicators of drought impacts on economy of rural districts and these items have been questioned. The validity ofdata collection tool was confirmed by experts. Its stability has been achieved by performing pretest and calculation of Alfa Cronbach (0.797). To analysis the data, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics have been used including factor analysis. To assess suitability of the data by factor analysis, KMO and Bartlett test have been used. All the statistical calculations in this study have been done by SPSS version 20 for windows. Sirvan and Chardavol counties are located in Ilam province in the west of Iran. Chardavol County is divided to two districts; 5 rural districts and two cities; Sirvan County has one district, three rural districts and a city; according to 1390 census, Chardavol County’s population is 55225 and the rural population is 37981. Sirvan population is 16948 and its rural population is 13047. Economic structure of these counties is dependent on agriculture and their major water resources are Chardavol River and Simereh River which are almost dry because of recent drought and also the amount of water in Simireh River in two stations, Halilan and Sazbon, decreased up to 90 and 82 percent respectively in 2007-2008 water year.
Discussion and Conclusion
Drought is one of the most persistent and most harmful natural disaster regarding the economy of the region which not only affect the agriculture quickly and directly but also it is followed by indirect and harmful impacts as a result of disorder in natural growth of agricultural productions. The results of factor analysis showed that the recent drought resulted in negative impacts on the economy of the rural districts in two counties, Sirvan and Chardavol. Drought impacts on rural districts in Sirvan County are four impacts including: decrease in production, increase in farmers' debts, poverty and change in approaches to agriculture. The results of factor analysis in Chardavol county shows that many changes happened in the economy of rural districts of this region too because of the occurrence of drought including economic crisis, poverty, change in approaches to agriculture and the debt crisis. According to the obtained results, in Sirvan County, the first and the most important impact of drought on economy of villages which are dependent on agriculture activity is decrease in production.

Majid Yasouri, Farhad Javan,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
In economy structure of rural districts in different countries, agriculture is considered as the main source of livelihood. The most important characteristic of this structure is lack of diversification for economic contexts and job opportunities, especially for the increasing number of people in the villages which is almost the result of attitude toward the village and government policies and internal factors in the village. The consequences that are the results of dependency of the users to the environment out of the village and external markets, obvious and unobvious unemployment, decrease in return of investment, destruction of basic natural resources, rural economy vulnerability, and instability of income sources include weakening economy and culture of the village, rural migration and marginalization. The country's villages have a weak economy and they are vulnerable because of their severe dependency on agriculture and its income and lack of employment sources and non-farm income sources. Agriculture section is not capable of increasing the level of income because of limitation of land areas which cannot be increased. Therefore, it seems necessary to search for another income source regarding the capabilities and limitation of each region of the country for rural economy diversification in order to increase the population stability in the villages. Upper Ashkevar rural district is located in a mountain region and therefore it has limitation in land area, it has agriculture -based livelihood, a limited capacity for employing workforce and no diversification. Because of population growth and increase of the number of young workforce, unemployment rate is growing every day and it seems to be extremely important to find alternative strategies for villagers' employment and income earning in this region focusing on population stability and saving the remained population. Therefore, diversification approach for rural economic activities as a useful strategy is one of the most important strategies which is presented for reducing the negative impacts of unsustainability in different environmental, economic and social aspects on rural contexts and in accordance with sustainable development pattern which is confirmed by most of international organizations including Global Bank and by most of theorists. High vulnerability of agriculture activities in the region has increased the necessity of diversification in agriculture activities. This study aims to answer the following question: "What are the most important limitations in diversification of rural economic activities in Upper Ashkevar"?
Methodology
This survey is a practical one, regarding its aim and it is done by descriptive-analytic method. The population includes villages of Ashkurat district in Rudsar which is determined according to field studies in the region and exploratory studies. For assessment of studied variables, we used survey methods and documentary research methods to obtain the information needed. In documentary part, we collected data by reviewing the literature and theories and in quantitative part we analyzed data which were collected through field study and also by the information provided from some organizations. The study population includes villages of Upper Ashkevar rural district (53 villages) in Rudsar County. To determine the number of households, we used Cochran Formula and according to that, samples are 285 households. Alfa Cronbach coefficient is calculated 0.786. To analysis the impacts of infrastructural and basic variables, natural factors and social factors which are effective on the lack of diversification in rural economy activities, we used step by step multi regression analysis method. The studied region is located in Rahimabad district in Rudsar County, north of Iran. Its elevation is 1500 to 2000 meter above sea level. Its population has decreased from 2478 people in 2006 to 1619 people in 2011. Agriculture is the basic occupation for the villagers in this region. Environmental limitation especially droughts in recent decades and climate changes in most years have threatened the agriculture production in this area.
Discussion and Conclusion
One of the most effective factors to describe the presence of increasing unemployment, low income, migration from rural districts to cities, low level of production, and inefficient use of resources is lack of diversification in economic activities in rural settlements. This issue has a fundamental role in economic instability. Rural settlements in this region are affected by many factors including unevenness of the soil surface, weather, water resources, soil and vegetation, limitation of slope, cold weather, geographical isolation and lack of infrastructures. As a result, there is a sever instability in economy and population of this region; in a way that during two censuses in 85 and 90, population of this region decreased by 30%. Increase of unemployment, poverty, income inequality and as a consequence pressure on basic resources have resulted in environmental problems including soil erosion. The obtained results show that among all the different factors which were studied, the impact of infrastructural and basic factors is more than other variables. Then, environmental factors, economic factors and social factors are effective in lack of rural economy diversification respectively. Regarding this, providing and implementing development plans for expansion and improvement of infrastructure levels such as suitable road, supporting services for production and alternant industries can be effective in rural economy diversification of the region.
 

Mohamad Hossain Yazdani, Afshar Seyedeyn, Rasoul Tayefe Eisa Khajeloo,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Regional development is one of those issues that have attracted lots of attentions by program-makers, especially the regional ones. A study on various levels of the major criterions including those of economic, social, cultural and health, particularly at regional level, is useful to determine the position of different regions, as it requires special considerations in regional level as well as determining conditions of national adaptation and conformity. So, as a country with various levels of development in different provinces, the rate of development of the cities and areas within a province cannot be the same. It may sometimes happen that due to the heterogeneous spatial distribution of development resources and different factors of economic, social and natural areas in rural districts of a province we cannot find any proper process of development. It seems that in the province of Ardabil, inequality and imbalances in optimal distribution of resources has caused the problem of concentration of facilities and services in the city dominated area that will consequently lead to the divergence and development gap among different regions. This is despite the fact that a little number of researches has done to determine the level of development of rural districts using different models and their integration as well as using the latest census results.
Methodology
This paper presents a practical article using descriptive analytical method. In order to collect basic information on the topic of different documentary methods based on library have been used. By documentaries methods collected theoretical principles related to the subject of the research and indexes. In this regard, due to the confronting limitations, we relied on to the determination of 13 indicators and variables in the field of infrastructure development. After collecting and processing information and required data in Excel, development levels of villages was calculated by means of multi-criteria decision making methods of TOPSIS, VIKOR, SAW and composite index of human development (HDI). In the following investigations done, Kapland method was used to achieve a consensus for the classification of rural districts. Finally, the results were illustrated in the form of maps using GIS to enable better analysis of spatial development in the province.
Discussion and conclusion
The study and comparison of rural districts in various aspects of economic, cultural, physical and spatial can significantly help Planners and policy makers in villages to take the right steps in the process of decision making and implementation of appropriate programs to provide them as many chances as possible to reduce regional inequalities. It is noteworthy that, currently, there are several statistical and cartographic methods of micro and macro ranking of rural districts providing different results as outputs. Thus, using new methods, comparing them with each other and choosing the best one is a matter of particular importance. In this study, after examining rural districts of Ardabil Province in terms of its underlying indicators, the following results were obtained. Results from ranking of rural districts in terms of different levels indicate that we should make a cautious use of multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM). The mere use of one or more quantitative model cannot reveal the reality of a society. Because, as we have already seen, TOPSIS, VIKOR, SAW, and HDI model have presented different results. For example, the highest level of development in TOPSIS model is dedicated to the rural districts of Mahmudabad, South Vilkij and Palnga. While in other models the highest level of development belongs to (rural districts of Kalkhoran, Eastern Angot and down Brznd in VIKOR), (rural districts of Eastern, southern and western Kishlak in HDI), (rural districts of Eastern Kalkhoran, and Eastern Khandbyl in SAW). Furthermore, using these four models showed different results in final ratings. As, the lowest level of development belongs to (the rural districts of Sabalan, Western Angot and down Brznd in TOPSIS), (the rural districts of Plnga, Kishlak Reza Qoli and low Brznd in VILOR), (the rural eastern districts of Minabad and Kalkhoran in HDI) and (the rural districts of western, eastern and southern Kishlak in SAW). It should be mentioned that the rural district of down Brznd has occupied the final ranking place just in the two models of TOPSIS and VIKOR. Eventually, by the use of the composite model of kapland we have resolved the problem and achieve a final ranking. Results from this model indicate that rural districts of Southern Senjed, Central Arshagh, and Eastern Angot have the highest and Arjestan, Alvarus, and Sabalan have the lowest level of development.

Farhad Azizpoor, Zahra Khodakarami,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Considering the important role of agriculture sector in the rural economy, it has caused the development of rural economy in various environmental, social and economic aspects. Thus it can play a significant role in achieving sustainable rural development. To achieve such goals, a particular value must be given to natural, social, human and financial capital resources. Among these, financial capitals receive the highest level of importance. According to the relatively small amount of local benefits of villages along with limited financial resources, less capital flows can be seen to the agriculture sector. Due to the individual exploitation system in the form of micro-credit granting, this condition has caused government give an important value to the supporting procedures of agricultural sector. Karasf in Khodabande county of Zanjan province is one of those rural districts whose share of agriculture sector in its economy is highly remarkable. The relatively low income of farmers in this region together with bureaucratic mechanism of banking system to finance resources of agricultural sector provoked farmers to utilize micro-credits. As in the years of 1385-1392 about 30 thousands of credits was granted to the farmers of this region. Approximately about 66 billion Tomeans of microcredits allocated to this region. It has been concluded to some effective results for villagers in agricultural sector and consequently for the rural development of the study area of the project. the present research we are trying to evaluate the effectiveness of such credits which have been mainly used in agricultural sector. In this regard the following fundamental question raised:
- In which ways the allocated agricultural micro credits are being used?
- What are some socioeconomic effects of microcredits on the rural district and its nearby villages?
- What factors influence the effectiveness of agricultural microcredit in the intended rural area?
Methodology
This study done by the used of descriptive analytical approach. The statistical population includes exploiting farmers of different villages from rural district of Karasf in Zanjan province (20 villages), Agriculture Jihad experts (10 experts), and experts of agriculture bank (5 experts) in Khodabande county. The following steps were spent in order to sample and determine the sample size: Selecting sample villages, we initially determined the number of villages which were taking advantages of microcredits and then classified them through the frequency of targeted utilizing. Out of 20 villages which had received credits, the sample size of 4 was determined by means of an estimation method based on similar research experience. Then 4 villages of Karsaf, Paskuhan, Korechal, and Dalaye sofla were selected based on results from qualitative sampling. By the use of Cochrane method, 157 out of 2200 units which were taking advantage of microcredits (and had received the credits at least one time in 1385- 1392) selected as agriculture utilizing units. Then using random and stratified sampling methods a case group has been selected from four villages. The intended experts were investigated by census method. To measure the amount of effectiveness, criterions like bank credits for the installment sales of machinery, creating livestock facilities, credits granted for digging wells, providing engine, saving the cost of planting, sowing and harvesting, creating jobs, increasing the amount of production, increasing of revenue and preventing migration of villagers have been selected. Data collection has done through library and field methods. Questionnaires and questioning techniques have been used in parts related to field studies. Due to the subjective nature of the criterions, an ordinal scale used for evaluating data. To assess validity and reliability of the questionnaire, expert opinion and Cronbach's alpha have been respectively used with emphasis on internal consistency of data. Total alpha coefficient was about 82% which indicates high reliability of the questionnaire. One sample t test and rational arguments were used for analyzing data.
Discussion and conclusion
Measuring the effectiveness of agricultural microcredits in rural development indicates that some indicators are more effective than others. The increase of agricultural products (particularly crop products) is the most effective factor on the effectiveness of microcredits. Of course, some other significant factors like the increase of income and savings and decrease of the migration rate can be attributed to it. Results show that agricultural microcredits do not affect equally on different indicators of development- especially on socio-economic ones. Moreover, executive mechanisms of granted microcredits influenced by traditional approach (economic growth) are not necessary efficient enough. In this framework, effective factors like centralized management (up to down) and official and legal relationships have caused financial resources of local nature not to rely on micro-savings by people which has caused by itself the instability of such resources. This situation can be a consequence of different factors. Among these factors, the dominant approach of implementing the policy of agricultural micro-credit is one of the most important ones. A comparative study of the principles governing the granting of credits shows that in the study area, traditional thinking (affected by the perspective of economic growth) was dominant. In the other words, one-dimensional development of the study area influenced by microcredit is influenced by traditional thinking which is governing its role of credits in positive developments of rural areas.

Esmaeil Ali Akbari, Mostafa Taleshi, Nayyereh Haj Amini,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Changes in spatial patterns and its structural and functional dynamics which is apparently obvious within physical links and relationships of cities and rural and urban network is fundamentally one of the outcomes of forces that contribute to the controlling process of actual mechanism of capital absorption, its flow, work forces, and population. Such forces play a significant role in excess flow and changes made in the structure of spatial system of regional network and its reconstruction, especially in urban networks. Results coming from changes in urban structures usually appear in form of physical development of structures and physical and functional changes which can cause alternative changes in the spatial structure of regional network system and urban network in terms of regional space and its peripheral relations. So, studying urban mechanisms can effectively help us in developing an efficient analytical framework or strategy of space reconstruction just in case that we try to study changes and understand forces and effective process on the construction and reconstruction of urban systems. This point of view can enable us to justify organization and reorganization of urban networks in regional space.
Methodology
Considering thinking direction of political economic (as the fundamental theory), this research is investigating the rate of socioeconomic changes and basic mechanisms which lead to the creation and transferring of patterns of spatial organization in regional space of Kerman. Regarding the nature of the subject and its components, making use of analyticaldescriptive method as an excellent approach was something inevitable. The official definition of statistical population of this research includes of urban centers of Kerman Province. Theoretical and quantitative information have been collected from scientific and statistical resources through documentary method. To explain and interpret regularities and rules of distribution of the size of cities and changes related to regional and urban network system, quantitative method of rank - size and prime city have been used to explain spatial hierarchy and intra city relations and links.
Discussion and conclusion
Local economic relations, excess flow and reconstruction of urban mechanism in regional space of Kerman County have all occurred within a process of three different periods: First period: Rural economic, excess occasions and urban dominant: In the initial years of land reforms and within this time, excess possession of landlords was forming the foundations of different methods of social management in spatial organization of the area. Of course, the domination of the biggest city of the area (Kerman), has been the most prominent form of spatial reflection of urban network. Within this period of time, urbanization has been gradually progressing in Kerman Province. It should be noted that the imbalanced growth of urban mechanism is one of the consequences of inequalities in agricultural sectors and among rural areas that has resulted into imbalanced distribution of regional space. In addition, it has caused all the privileges connected to the concentration of capital, facilities, activities and population to be allocated to the metropolis of the area. The functional feature which is particularly dominant is known as the basic feature of exploitation capitalism which is applied in villages and small cities of the area by Kerman. Second period: Changes in local economic network, the rise of oil rents, and related urbanization: After land reforms and formation of rentier state, national oil surplus has had a great impact upon the construction of the environment of the area. From the time of the complete destruction of local and regional networks used in order to exploit excess rural resources, a series of aggressive actions was begun in the city of Kerman via the absorption of extra mines and industries which was not merely resulted from production. Actually, it was kind of ownership royalty appointed by urban governance to make higher amount of production, activities and concentration. Excess industrial-mining flow is mainly departed into the central area. A great amount of it has been grasped by the regional metropolis of Kerman. Financial mechanisms of budgeting, credit distribution, development programs and distribution of bank deposits by the government are examples of other forms of investment in this period. These forms have made unequal spatial concentration and heterogeneous current of national surplus in urban networks to be possible. A great amount of excess flow is dominantly and unequally devoted to Kerman through development budget and bank deposits. Patterns related to the velocity of money and surplus unequal concentration not only reflected over the spatial organization of settlement system (space of area) in forms of imbalanced development, but has also constructed and reconstructed a new but unequal networks of cities and rural- urban areas within the same space. Third period: Urban changes and excess absorption: Since 1370s, urban transformations caused inequalities in excess absorption, excess flow, and excess accumulation in urban networks through the creation of new frameworks. In this way, new imbalanced forms have gotten expanded in regional space of the area. In this period, the process of urbanization was the main reason of using rents (excess). Excess absorption was also done through these urban changes and transformations. The mostly used rent-seeking structures are made through space creation, high profit-making plans of urban development, designing and performing noncommercial projects by private section and state actors which can lead into the production of value and surplus value. The implementation of these kinds of project which are considered as success tools for urban management in competitions for a closer and longer approaching to rents are the most significant factors affecting urban transformations to absorb and make an unequal excess flow within the cities. Considering this, the real strategy of regional integration and reconstruction of regional and urban networks based on declining hegemonic relations in the metropolis and availability of equal chances of development for networks staff must be relied on a special pattern via which we can provide situations of employment generation based on internal capacities of local economic growth in the bottom of the whole network together with eccentric growth of large urban nodes (Kerman) mixed with several developing old nods (Rafsanjan, Sirjan, Jiroft, Bam and Zarand). It seems obvious that a model like this cannot be effective without reviewing and rethinking of its structural relations and concepts and regulations of the hegemonic process of national surplus.

Seyyed Hassan Moteei-Langroudi, Horieh Moradi,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Rural planning is one of the most important activities for agents and planners of development. Agriculture Jihad aims to accomplish rural development purposes through codification of plans and activities to increase the level of awareness and professional skills of villagers. In developing countries, it is a problem that rural planners do not have enough technical and professional information. Change agents in Agriculture Jihad as the engine of rural development have the responsibility to educate villagers and increase their level of awareness, insights and professional skills. Agents' professional development in Agriculture Jihad means using potential capacities of staffs which are not used completely at the moment. Today, economic development experts believe that using human resources which have been developed is the most important factor that effect on the process of socioeconomic development in countries. So, they have emphasis on investment in human resource development more than ever. On the other hand, changes because of globalization resulted in changes in human resource development and also characteristics of developed human resource and human resource requirements of labor market have increased in more dimensions. Creating communication is change agents' skill which means capability of planning, preparing and presenting profitable innovations to the villagers. On the whole, it can be said that professional empowerment is the process of continuous improvement in of Agriculture Jihad which is done by creating and expansion of dominance based on people and groups' competency on all the areas and duties and influence on staffs' performance and the overall performance of the organization in rural planning. Therefore, empowerment should be focused in order to develop human resource in Agriculture Jihad which results in empowerment and job satisfaction of the staffs and approaching to one of the rural development's purposes. So, regarding to the importance of the subject and since the operational systems of the organization are executed by humans and this is the most important investment of the organization, this study is implemented aiming to explain professional capabilities of the agents in Agriculture Jihad for rural planning. The study aims to answer this key question that "Whether agents of Agriculture Jihad in Kermanshah province have the professional capabilities of rural planning or not".
Methodology
The study population includes all agents and rural development planners in Kermanshah province which is 456 people. In this study, all the staffs of Agriculture Jihad including manager, experts, technicians and constructive corps are called agents of Agriculture Jihad. The sample size is determined 210 people according to Morgan table. Sampling method was chosen randomly out of the respondents. Data collection tool was questionnaires and its validity was confirmed by some of the university professors and experts; its stability was determined using pre-test. Cronbach's Alfa was calculated 93% and 90% for professional capability in rural planning and entrepreneurial spirit respectively that shows the suitability of the data collection tool. For data analysis, descriptive statistical methods and referential statistics have been used. In descriptive statistics part, distribution of items' frequency and characteristics of respondents such as frequency and percent are measured and also the professional capability in rural planning and entrepreneurial spirit in management of Agriculture Jihad in Kermanshah province are studied too; in referential statistics part, correlation analysis and regression analysis are used. Data analysis is done with SPSS 20 software.
Discussion and Conclusion
According to these study findings, the condition of entrepreneurial spirit between agents of Agriculture Jihad in this province is more than the measured average level. The result showed that in organization staffs' point of view these parameters are considered as the most important ones in performing a job: having responsibility, job satisfaction and self confidence in performing the job and having the experience in the field of training courses for having job satisfaction and professional capability, job requirements' assessment for starting a job, motivation for improvement and using new and innovative methods for performing the job, having the spirit of forgiveness and sacrifice in group activities and having the ability to adapt to new environment. And there is also a great correlation between variables such as entrepreneurial spirit, age, effects of in-service training course and professional capability for rural planning which shows the importance and outstanding role of these variables in professional capability. The results of step by step regression showed that variables such as entrepreneurial spirit, up to date specialized information and contribution in in-service training courses had many impacts on agents' professional capability and these variables are able to explain 64 percent of changes in the case of professional capability for rural planning. So it can be said that, using information systems in developmental activities, training the skills and creativity techniques to the staffs are some of the actions which can be suitable areas for development of entrepreneurial spirit and these actions also provide agents' professional capabilities in Agriculture Jihad.

Gholamhossein Abdollahzadeh, Mohammad Sharif Sharifzadeh, Alireza Khajeshahkohi,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
It is difficult to measure sustainable agriculture as a multidimensional concept. While it is relatively easy to express philosophical definitions of agriculture sustainability, providing an operational and methodology definition for evaluating the level of sustainability is difficult. Different methodological approaches have been formulated and developed to assess the sustainability levels of sustainable agriculture. However, there is no consensus on a comprehensive framework for identifying and selecting indicators, different scales of indicators, weighting and especially for aggregating individual indicators into a final composite indicator and rating of sustainability level. So, Evaluation of sustainable agriculture is an important challenge for agriculture researchers, agents, and policymakers. A comprehensive approach for stability analysis is the complexity of each other-need activities. That's why we need a comprehensive analytical framework for evaluating sustainable agriculture development and use. This study presents a certain methodological approach to evaluate and determine the sustainability of agricultural production at farm-scale which integrates all the individual indicators of ecological, economic and social stability into a comprehensive final index. In a case study, in order to test the proposed methodology, 22 individual indicators were selected. Then, a local condition of rice cultivation in Sari County was studied through an open review of 287 rice farmers.
Methodology
Agricultural sustainability can be evaluated at different spatial scales including field, regional, national and even international measures. However, due to the specific conditions of each region, its natural environment, socio-economic conditions and agricultural techniques, necessity of a transparent scale is unavoidable. Most national indicators are not applicable at the scale of individual farms which are the purpose of the intended operations. In this study, 22 single index fields were selected to demonstrate and test the proposed methodology in a specific case study. Then, its relevance to the local conditions of rice cultivation in Sari County was studied by examining 287 rice farmers. Considering relative importance and impact of social, economic and ecological factors on the total sustainability, a methodology of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied by exploring the views of experts to determine the weight. Finally, the final composite indicator of sustainability was created through the integration of the three components of sustainability. A questionnaire was designed to collect data for the current farming operations. It consisted of three parts, namely: a) agricultural land management practices; b) economic performance and c) social characteristics of each farm. The questionnaire was designed in such a way to be completed in the shortest possible time. Thus, it was consisted of useful sections for measuring and providing information related to the entire system of agricultural production.
Discussion and conclusion
The results of this study indicate that 17.77% and 53.66% of rice production system is unstable and potentially unstable. While the sustainability level of social component was standing in a satisfactory situation, the sustainability level of economic and ecological components was still changing. In addition, farm sustainability was higher for those farmers using the method of biological control, low-product seed, agro-ecological management practices, owners of integrated land and participants in training and extension courses. The level of education, family labor, and the amount of self-consumption of rice are factors of positive and direct relations with ecological sustainability. On the other hand, the amount of rice production causes significant negative effects on it. Age, farming experience, level of education and the amount of self-consumption show a positive significant relation with social sustainability. In addition, education, land size, selfconsumption, the amount of produced rice and productivity index are in a significant positive relation with economic sustainability. In general, factors including education, extension communication, attending training courses and the information source of consumption play a key role in the increasing of farmers' awareness. In this study, to evaluate and compare the sustainability of agricultural production system in farm scale, a methodology framework has been provided by the combination of three components of sustainability, i.e. economic, social and environmental. However, it cannot be claimed that the proposed methodology is quite authentic to evaluate the complicated phenomenon of sustainability. Different facilitating assumptions are required for the use of this methodology. Of course, it has several advantages and also can be used for different purposes. Thus, the following hints are noteworthy in the methodology section:
- Variables and indicators of sustainability should be selected according to the specific circumstances and context of each area and the topic at hand, as well.
- Validation and preliminary test of indicators is ensuring their appropriateness and being measurable in the current conditions of any region.
- Weight allocation model based on the views of experts and AHP, can obviously show the importance of individual indicators in the final integrated one.
- The integration of the three components of sustainability into the final one should be due to the relative weight of the components.
- In the process of making indicators, positive and negative effects of indicators on the overall sustainability must be considered.

Asghar Nazareian, Kaveh Zalnejad, Reza Mirzanejad,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
In the last half-century, tourism has been considered as one of the most efficient factors in socioeconomic reconstruction and development of rural districts and non-urban areas. Tourism can be nominated as driver of peace, because it underlies friendship and mutual understanding between nations and brings peace without polluting the human environmental interactions unlike other productive industries. Today, tourism is a promising activity which is reminded as development pathway. In recent years, tourism as a new form of industry has had many effects on economic, social and cultural status of the world. Job creation, regional balance, helping to global peace, helping to investment on cultural heritages, improvement in the environment conditions, helping to improve wild life, development of rural districts which are endowed with tourism attractions and preventing migrations and etc. are some advantages of this industry. Iran is a country which has many different tourism attractions. Our country is among top ten in terms of tourism attractions; it is among top five countries in terms of tourism variations and among top three countries in terms of variations in handicrafts. According to tourism ranking in South Asia, tourism is dominated by Iran after India. It can be said that Serein County is the most attractive county in some seasons in Ardebil province. It can be said that Serein County is the most attractive county in some seasons in Ardebil province.
Methodology 
Regarding its aim, this study is a practical one and regarding its methodology, it is a descriptive-analytic one. Data collection has been done by literature review, field study and using questionnaires. To analysis data, we have used a statistical test, T-Test which is considered as a parametric test. This test uses data with interval scale and ratio scale regarding the parametric test. The design of the questions can be changed to numerical indicators, so numerical equivalence is used in the form of Likert scale, describing the situations as very low to very high. The populations (or elements) are considered as the people with mutual characteristics including Hostess population of Serein and experts in the region. For sampling, Cochran Formula is used. For residential households which are 600 people, considering reliability level of 95%, and 6% possibility of acceptable error of estimation in sample size according to conducted surveys, these samples are 260 people and the population of experts regarding reliability level of 95% and 6% possibility of acceptable error of estimation is 56 people. Since organizational experts were unavailable in this region, the total number of people for distributing the questionnaires was 33 ones, so all of them were considered in questionnaires distribution.
Discussion and Conclusion
Even though our country is potential in tourism, it is taking the first steps and comparing other countries, the country still fails to find an outstanding position for itself in the world. The results show that by cooperation of private section, necessary infrastructures in tourism section have been developed partly and some standard hotels and accommodations have been constructed. On the other hand, visiting hot springs is possible in every season because of its conditions. So, we can consider it as a yearly active industry. Iran has many hot and mineral springs which have healing characteristics for many diseases and building hospitals with expert staffs and specialist doctors can create a good situation for medical tourism in the world. Springs in Iran, especially hot spring in Serein, are not introduced to the world and this causes that hydrotherapy be generally an attraction just for domestic tourists. Job creation and foreign exchange created by hot spring are some advantages that undoubtedly can be used for healing diseases and attracting domestic and international tourists by suitable and extensive announcements and also investment and cooperation of private section in development of accommodations and welfare centers. Documents and records of municipality for issuing building permits from 2003 to 2010 showed that in this period of time the number of issuing building permits increased which explains the constructions expansion and spatial-physical expansion during these years. The meaningful relation between spatial-physical changes in Serein during the exploitation of hydrotherapy treatment springs creates a meaningful relation between vertical expansion of Serein and tourism infrastructures and the conclusion of questionnaires about changing Ardebil to be the capital city of the province which were distributed among householders, experts and managers and its impact on Serein spatial-physical development and development of Serein because of its mineral springs and natural characteristics. So, the following strategies are notable about Serein:
- Presenting a comprehensive plan for tourism development in accordance with rural and small town development;
- Controlling irregular constructions of accommodations;
- Good planning for `physical-spatial development and presenting strategies in suitable directions in Serein;
- Avoiding unauthorized constructions on the farms around the city.

Vahid Riahi, Hassan Momeni,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Water resources are maybe the most important and the most necessary available resource for human and agriculture section. Agriculture section with almost 11 percent of gross domestic production, 23 percent of employment, and more than 80 percent of feeding the people of the country has a vital role in Iran's economy. Water as the most important factor in agriculture section, has a significant effect on agriculture production. Special climate conditions in Iran such as dry weather, inappropriate spatial and temporal rainfalls are inevitable realities which limit the production and sustainable agriculture management to use water resources of the country correctly and reasonably. In modern management theories that are related to water resources limitation, water is considered as a socioeconomic item and the first human need for different usages including agricultural use. It seems that there are many water resources, but, in fact, available water resources are limited. So, attention to type and method of supplying water resources for agriculture use and suitable usage of them for valuable productions can be helpful in the way of correct management and usage of water resources. This study aims to consider effective indicators in the method of water resources usage for agriculture development and management of water resources. So the aim of the study is to answer these questions: In the studied villages, how are basic water resources supplied? Which villages are more capable of supplying water?
Methodology
This study is a descriptive-analytic one, which aims to assess the capability of water resources in agriculture section. Data collection has been done by using official and written documents; firstly through literature review and secondly by field study. In collecting official documents we used statistical documents of Iran's Statistic Center, Agriculture Organization of the province, Dehyari, health centers of the county, Rural Water Organization; and for field study we used the researcher's self-designed questionnaire. For these propose, water resources indicators, climates, geomorphology, economic, social and environmental factors are classified to 33 items which are related to this study. The study population includes Buin and Miandasht County, located in the west of Isfahan province. The population of this county has been more than 26000 people in 2011. This county has 46 residential villages and for sample population, 5 villages in different rural districts have been chosen according to parameters like dispersion, population and distance from the county's center. The county's center is Buin which means "warehouse"; it is located 250 km far from Isfahan and its elevation is 2450 meter above sea level. This county includes five districts: Yeelagh, Gorji, North Grachembo, South Grachembo, Sardsiri and five rural districts.
Discussion and Conclusion
Because of water resource limitation, water saving methods and reform of irrigation system should be focused and these activities play an important role in raising water resource capability. Even though there are many water resources, water stress is happening in some rural districts and studies show that more than two-thirds of the provinces in the country are facing with this phenomena. The study results showed that firstly new policies in exploiting water resources and land are necessary regarding to water resource capability in agriculture section, in rural districts. Secondly, correct management of water resources and increasing the efficiency of productivity, job creation and diversification of rural activities without considering capabilities of water resources in rural districts is impossible; and finally, low level of education has negative impacts on efficiency of productivity and also on modern methods of utilizing irrigation systems in the villages. Moreover, there is a direct relation between rainfall and the amount of production in rural districts; fluctuations of production are related to fluctuations in rainfall with an almost regular process and this indicates the lack of modern irrigation systems and dominance of traditional agriculture in the studied area. Considering the water resources of rural settlements in four different types, it was found that Dareh-hovz village is on the top and Masumabad village is on the down low and this ranking is related to environmental diversity. Regarding these issues and according to field studies and observations, it seems that focusing on infrastructures and tourism boom in Dareh-hovz village and development of agriculture in accordance with changes in cropping pattern and consumption pattern in the studied villages especially in Masumabad is necessary. In Dareh-hovz village, variety of economic activities including tourism, in one hand can play an important role in population stability of the village and in the other hand in decreasing the use of water resources in agriculture section. Finally, it can be said that separation of water resources in some villages around and catchment basins like Dashkesen and Aznaveleh villages need economic diversification.

Mohamad Hussain Karim,
Volume 4, Issue 13 (11-2015)
Abstract

Introduction
Nowadays, agriculture is an economic activity which plays an important role in gross domestic product (GDP) for every country by providing food safety for its people. Agricultural activities can also have side effects on environment. Investment in agriculture section and its impact on this section's output is an important issue which is confirmed by researches and studies in this field and also by empirical evidence. Investment in agriculture section leads to production growth and job creation in this section and also in other economic sections; therefore, it is very important to recognize effective factors on investment in agriculture section and suitable policies for development and expansion of investment in this section. At the moment, agriculture section and natural resources are the most important sections in the economics of the country because of their vital role in providing the country's need of food and fulfilling food safety. Regarding remarkable capabilities in resources and production factors including prone lands, different climates, renewable natural sources such as forests, pastures and rich genetic reserves, this section could find a suitable position in the economics of the country and it plays an important role in gross domestic product (GDP), increase of non-oil exports and job creation in the country. One of agriculture section could be extensive networks of rural cooperatives which are organized and efficient. Cooperation is the process of decision making by individuals or groups which is optional, with knowledge and a voluntary decision to meet the needs and fulfill special proposes in special conditions spontaneously or by plans. The formation of empowered committees with new approaches which are more compatible regarding people's rights, can also act potentially as a tool for making people responsible for their own affairs and provide opportunities for government organizations to be responsible for their fundamental duties and their missions. The process of rural sustainable development depends on different factors and condition; development of cooperatives is one of the most important factors which can play an effective role in improvement of work conditions, living the life, production, services, income level and social status of villagers along with government policies. Therefore, given that in 1393 in under development countries, cooperatives could use a remarkable portion of workforce in small scales and they could increase their shares in gross domestic product (GDP) and even increase social unity by using a descriptive - analytic method in this survey, the existing challenges in rural cooperative networks of Iran have been studied to detect harms in order to overcome these problems by presenting suitable strategies.
Methodology
This is a survey which has been done by descriptive-analytic method. Descriptive research is an activity to describe and illustrate objectively and precisely the events and characteristics of the considered society or the researcher's interested issue. Descriptive-analytic method is a research for fact-finding and a description of the circumstances in a determined period of time. To study and get the information about the studied subject, we referred to many different sources including managers' comments and ideas, objective observations, interviews, collecting documents and available reports in 1393. While getting necessary information, through investigating the provided collection and also presenting strategic solutions for improving rural cooperatives, we integrated all the information and holistic and analytic methods of study to understand important harms and challenges in agricultural organizations which are covered by rural cooperative organizations.
Discussion and Conclusion
In macro scale, some challenges which rural cooperatives encounter are as follow:
- Government interferes with cooperative management (there is no complete independency in cooperatives)
- There is no professional management for cooperatives and committees in counties, villages and rural districts.
- Members do not have a rational relation with cooperatives.
- In some regions and for some activities, management of rural cooperatives is a family business.
- Cooperatives are insufficient regarding to developmental issues (rural and agriculture development).
- There are lots of registration and licensing authorities for cooperatives in agriculture section and also they are varied.
- Rural cooperatives are government organizations and they are responsible for and act as a trustee of the cooperatives and committees.
- Information and precise statistical data about committees and cooperatives are not integrated and provided.
- Rural cooperative activities in some regions and for some activities are not comprehensive. Cooperation has existed in human life since very beginning and through time and complication of economic relation; this process becomes increasingly more important. Since this section can create jobs especially in villages, this phenomena can act very successful. Rural cooperative is an operating system. Regarding the existing problems in villages and in agriculture section in our country, this system can solve many farmers' problems and can effect positively on rural development. Rural cooperatives are defined as one of the Iran's operating systems, but these systems encounter with some harms which result in their inefficiency. Definitely, better conditions could be provided for rural residents (villagers) by recognizing and solving these harms.


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