Rural Development Strategies

Abstract Diversifying economic activities in rural areas is considered a key strategy for strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable development in rural communities. This approach not only reduces dependence on one or a few specific sources of income but also expands the range of economic activities, thereby creating diverse employment opportunities for rural residents. In this context, the present survey study was conducted in 2021 with the aim of identifying and analyzing the major barriers to the diversification of rural economic activities. The statistical population of this research consisted of all rural household heads in Kunduz Province. The sample size was determined to be 188 using G*Power software, and cluster sampling was employed. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered via face to face interviews. Exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that the barriers of the urban–rural gap and the low risk taking tendency of rural residents, explaining 24.52% of the variance, followed by educational weaknesses (15.75%), lack of provision of technology and public goods (12.5%), and skill and specialization barriers (7.85%), together explained 60.6% of the variance in barriers to the diversification of rural economic activities in the villages of Kunduz Province. Compared with previous studies, the present research identified more concrete barriers to rural economic diversification. While earlier studies categorized these barriers broadly into social, infrastructural, managerial, environmental, and economic dimensions, this study highlights specific factors. Among them, the low risk taking tendency of rural residents was identified as a key obstacle preventing them from entering new rural occupations. Therefore, policymakers should reduce rural residents’ risk perceptions by supporting the provision of business development services required for emerging rural enterprises and by offering financial support or investment during the transition period. The study also identified agricultural product processing, sewing, and carpet weaving as the most important new employment opportunities that should be considered in rural economic diversification strategies.

Abstract Rural development is a multidimensional and dynamic process, the success of which depends on the extent of social interactions among actors. Recognizing the position and role of key actors can lead to the design of effective policies for sustainable development. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the position of key actors influential in the development of rural communities using the Social Network Analysis (SNA) method. This research was conducted in 2024 in three villages—Islamabad-e Bala, Habib Ishan, and Vahdat-e Eslami—under the jurisdiction of Aqqala County. The statistical population included 120 members of rural development and reconstruction centers, selected through a census method. Data were collected using a social network relationship analysis questionnaire and analyzed using UCINET software. The results indicated that the structural characteristics of trust and participation networks varied across the villages studied. In Islamabad-e Bala, the density of the trust and collaboration networks was 63.7% and 63.2%, respectively, indicating strong social cohesion and extensive interactions. In Habib Ishan, the trust network density was estimated at 43.3% and the collaboration network at 31.9%, reflecting a more prominent role of trust ties compared to collaboration. In Vahdat-e Eslami, the trust (38.3%) and collaboration (32.9%) network densities and the transitivity of both networks were below 25%, indicating weak network cohesion. Examination of network centrality revealed that Islamabad-e Bala had higher in-degree centrality and greater dispersion compared to out-degree centrality. In Habib Ishan, the high dispersion of out-degree centrality in the trust network indicated an unequal distribution of trust. In Vahdat-e Eslami, the low median centrality values reflected weaker social cohesion. From the perspective of occupational groups, the “Other Occupations” group in Islamabad-e Bala’s trust and collaboration networks (median in-degree centrality 82% and out-degree centrality 56%), farmers in Habib Ishan’s trust network played a more central role in the social networks. Additionally, housewives in Vahdat-e Eslami (out-degree centrality 46.15%) had the greatest role in expanding collaboration. Finally, it is recommended that social capital enhancement programs be designed with a focus on key actors in each occupational group to improve the structure of trust and collaboration in low-cohesion villages.

Abstract Flooding is one of the most significant natural hazards, imposing widespread social, economic, and environmental consequences on local communities, particularly in vulnerable regions. In this context, community participation plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of flood management and mitigating its adverse impacts. The primary objective of this study is to identify the factors influencing local community participation in flood management in Aq Qala and Gomishan counties. Methodologically, this research adopts a quantitative, survey-based approach. The statistical population comprised all urban and rural residents of Aq Qala and Gomishan counties in 2022. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 384 respondents was selected through a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was confirmed through content validity (face validity), and its reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α = 0.792), indicating acceptable internal consistency. Data analysis was conducted to examine the effects of key independent variables, including social trust, social participation, social communication, awareness, economic factors, institutional factors, and perceived risk severity, on participatory flood management. The findings reveal that among the examined variables, institutional factors exert the strongest influence on improving participatory management performance, with a beta coefficient of 1.499. Following institutional factors, social trust and interaction demonstrated a significant positive effect on participatory management, with a beta coefficient of 0.731. These results underscore the critical role of effective institutions and trust-based social relationships in fostering community engagement in flood management initiatives. Moreover, the study confirms that the integrated theoretical framework employed provides a robust and suitable model for identifying and explaining the determinants of participatory management in local communities. The constructs of this framework were able to explain the social phenomenon under investigation to a considerable extent. Based on the findings, strengthening the institutional capacity of local councils, village administrations, and disaster management organizations, enhancing transparency and accountability, promoting two-way communication with local communities, and increasing public awareness through targeted and context-specific flood risk education are recommended to encourage informed and effective community participation in flood management.

Abstract In this study, the economic and social impacts of the watershed management projects in 6 rural watersheds of Rashtkhar County were evaluated. The socio-economic impacts of natural resource projects were assessed with 60 questions of a Questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS20 software. The results showed that the highest and lowest scores of natural resource users in Rashtkhar on the effects of implementing watershed management projects were related to reducing annual financial losses from floods and reducing the cost of irrigated agriculture production, respectively, with an average of 4.08 and 1.53 and a standard deviation of 0.25 and 1.65.Factors influencing the assessment of the socio-economic impacts of natural resource projects were categorized into six components: welfare, education and awareness, participation and culture building, migration, direct income generation, and indirect benefits. The results showed that the socio-economic impacts of natural resource projects are higher and lower than other components in the components of participation and culture building with an average of 43, and migration with an average of 17, respectively. The correlation between education level and research components is positive and significant at the 1% level. Therefore, with increasing levels of education, the level of components affecting natural resource and watershed management projects such as welfare, education and awareness, participation and culture building, migration frome the village, direct income generation, indirect benefits also increases. The relationship between the level of well-being and the impact of the education and awareness component in natural resource projects with the number of family members showed that large families had a more positive evaluation than small families at a significant level of 1%. These individuals also have a better evaluation of the effects of natural resource projects on direct and indirect income generation compared to small families. In small families, the level of participation and cultural development is more desirable than in large families, and these individuals have a lower tendency to migrate than in large-population families. According to the research results, it is recommended to use the capacities of local communities and stakeholders in the stages of study, location, implementation, and maintenance of plans and projects.

Abstract Nowadays, E-learning has been seriously considered in educational systems. Given this necessity, the agricultural extension and education system has also established the Agricultural Education Network (SHAK) as a web-based learning network. Therefore, the continuous improvement of service quality in any e-learning system is essential. Accordingly, the main purpose of this survey research was to analyze the service quality components of the agricultural education network (SHAK) as perceived by educators, which was conducted in 1401 (2022-2023). The statistical population of the study consisted of educators (N= 2415), out of whom 332 people were determined as the sample using Cochran's formula and stratified random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire was the main data collection tool. Its validity was approved by a panel of experts and construct validity (AVE Index). Reliability of the questionnaire was approved by calculating the Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR). The collected data were analyzed by SPSS22 and LISREL software. The ranking of service quality components of the Agricultural Education Network revealed that, from the perspective of the surveyed educators, the "educators" and "content", with averages of 3.79 and 3.60 out of five respectively, were in the highest ranks, while "planning and implementation" and "results", with averages of 3.44 and 3.29 out of five respectively, were in the lowest ranks. Furthermore, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) after entering 43 indicators showed that the service quality model of the agricultural education network consisted of six main components: infrastructure-support, planning and implementation, content, educators, learner, and results. The homogeneity and reliability of the model’s indicators were confirmed, and the research data showed a good fit with the factor structure and theoretical foundation of the study. At the same time, the content component accounted for the highest factor loading (0.96). Accordingly, in order to improve the quality of this network's services, enhance the user-friendliness of the system, provide educational content appropriate for e-learning, adjust the educational schedule based on the learner’s needs, improve educators' competencies, and continuously evaluate the components of this network, it is suggested.

Abstract Technologies are the most efficient factor in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of other production resources. In recent years, technology managers have tried to pave the way for the growth and development of emerging technologies in the target society by relying on governance functions. This research aimed to develop an appropriate governance model for the development of emerging technologies in Iran's rural production centers, and was conducted using a survey method and structural equation modeling in 1402. The statistical population of the research was 456 agricultural technology activists, of whom 314 were surveyed nationwide using a stratified random sampling method, based on the Morgan and Krejci table.Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire whose form validity was confirmed through convergent and divergent validity and expert opinion surveys, and its reliability was confirmed by examining the research model, calculating the extracted variance, and composite reliability. Pearson correlation coefficient (rs < 0.451 < 0.131) showed that there is a positive and significant relationship at the 99% level between governance indicators for the development of emerging technologies, and examining the relationships between latent and manifest variables and calculating factor loadings showed that the indicators of attention to sustainability in rural and agricultural production (0.808), transparency of programs and policies (0.786), foresight (0.773), legality (0.770), and development of infrastructure in rural-production centers (0.764) have the greatest impact on the developed governance model. The overall evaluation of the research model based on the GOF index was 0.586, and the validity of the model was confirmed by a panel of experts.Therefore, given the high speed of development of emerging agricultural technologies in industrialized countries, it is appropriate for our country's rural policy-making system, with national determination and will, to pay attention to the issue of interaction between influential institutions in the development of technological agricultural units in rural production centers and, through educational and promotional programs and the formulation of specific support policies in the target community, to introduce the capabilities and capacities of technological, modern, and advanced agriculture in the issue of technological development