Rural Development Strategies

Abstract A better understanding of geographical phenomena and scientific comprehending of geographical locations requires comprehensive information about these areas. In addition, the awareness of the spatial distribution and development levels are considered as prerequisites for rural development plans and programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the development levels of rural areas in Koohrang County. Statistical population was over ten households selected among rural areas (132 villages) in Koohrang County. The required secondary data were collected and designed from the statistical yearbook of Koohrang County in 2011. In this study, a combination method of VIKOR-AHP was used to measure level of development in the villages. In addition, in order to determine the optimal distribution of indices, the Gini coefficient was used. Data processing was conducted using MATLAB7.10 and Expert Choice software. Results showed that the highest and lowest degrees of development (0.994 and 0.005) were related to "Castle of Ali-Abad" and "Dezak-Cheshmeh" villages, respectively. Moreover, results indicated that there was the unfavorable development in the study area (with average of 0. 217 in the range 0-1) in a way that most of the villages (21.46%) with 53.39% of the population in the area were completely undeveloped. Furthermore, the results based on Gini coefficient and coefficient of variability revealed that the conventional indices of rural development weren't distributed properly. Therefore, it is necessary to have special review and reconsider to determine the main service centers based on settlements hierarchical system.

Abstract In the current study, the effects of farming systems on potato production factors productivity were investigated in the 2011-2012. The data were collected using two stages cluster sampling and preparing 208 questionnaires submitted to farmers in the Koredestan and Hamedan Provinces. The efficacy of farming systems computed using dummy variable, and to select the best produce function, flexible and non-flexible functions were studied. Results indicated that production function Cobb-Douglas is better than the other tested functions. In addition, the effect of ownership farming system on production factors productivity was positive while the effect of other farming systems was found to be negative. Therefore, it is recommended that Ministry of Jahad-e-Agriculture encourage farmers to buy rental land and wells over the long-term period by giving low interest loans.

Abstract Abstract Due to being in mountainous regions, Sarkal County has not developed much either physically or agriculturally. However, its specific climatic conditions have provided an opportunity to establish rainfed vineyards. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potentials and capability of the region for establishing rainfed vineyards as well as identify the benefits of rainfed vineyards for future planning. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared and sent to 83 grape growers in 31 villages. In addition, associated managers were interviewed according to 343 Kookran formula. The current study offers solutions for developing rainfed vineyards, applying the measurement method, case studies, and also enumerating the pros and cons, and opportunities as well as threats based on SWOT. As the next step, the provided solutions were prioritized based on QSPM matrix. The results showed that the solutions for developing rainfed vineyards are kind of aggressive solutions. According to the internal factors assessment Matrix, the final score of 2.52 shows that establishing and developing rainfed vineyards based on internal factors in Sarkal County is highly possible. Moreover, the external factors assessment Matrix with a total score of 3.44 shows that in the present conditions, the development of rainfed vineyards in Sarkal County reinforces the opportunities. Finally, SO6 approach titled “constructing Agro-processing industries to save the vintage and cut down the damages” was selected and introduced using QSPM matrix, which reads.

Abstract Determination and identification of areas with economic potential, particularly in the production and processing of agricultural products and targeted investments in rural, urban and regional planning, is one of the important issues and it has a critical role in increasing employment, income, rural productivity and improve livelihood of this country. In this context, the aim of this study is to establish priority locations for processing agricultural cooperatives in rural areas of the West provinces (i.e. Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Ilam, Lorestan and Hamedan) by using TOPSIS. For this purpose, the availability of raw materials were selected as one of the most important factors affecting the establishment of cooperatives in rural areas of the West of the Country, and it was used to determine the weights while studying the literature by using the snowball sampling method. For this purpose, eleven instructor and experts from the industries in charge of agricultural products processing were selected and their comments were used. The results showed that based on the availability of raw materials to industries, rural areas of Kermanshah and Hamadan had the highest level of TOPSIS method based cooperatives and the rural areas in the provinces of Lorestan, Kurdistan, and Ilam was ranked third to the fifth.

Abstract The agricultural sector has a special and important place in Iran. In order to make policies and protocols in agricultural sector, it is necessary to better understand the effective factors in growing this sector. In this study, it was attempted to use an appropriate approach to analyze the components of the growth of agricultural products’ value. For this purpose, a non-parametric approach named “multiplicative decomposition method” based on time-series data (1991-92 – 2010-2011) were used to separate value’s growth to parameters such as price [1]growth, cultivation area growth, yield growth and changing cropping pattern and determine the effect of each parameter. The results showed that the growth of agricultural products’ value has had the average annual growth of 16 percent, while the value of the same products in the country showed the average annual growth of 18 percent. Although, the value of agricultural products during the study showed a positive growth, price growth and then cropping pattern were the main reason[2]s for this growth. In sum, these results represent lack of an appropriate improvement in land productivity growth and cropping pattern in Golestan province.

Abstract In parallel with the increasing global population, food security or increasing agricultural products is one of the biggest challenges that human society is faced with during the recent decades, this necessity led to overuse of pesticides and fertilizers which cause serious and sometimes irreversible dangers. In the resent years, several measures have been taken to return to organic agriculture. The current study attempted to represent a agronomic program in which decision makers in addition to their economic goals, pay more attention to environment by producing organic products. To achieve this goal, goal programming and its combination with Extended Lexicographic Goal Programming framework, based on multiple criteria decision making methods were used in Bardsir and Orzoyeh regions. The required data were collected using 567 questionnaires and doing interview with beneficiaries using random sampling method in 2013. In the current study, six different goals included profit maximization, employment of labor maximization, minimization of irrigation water, working machinery, fertilizer and pesticides at difference priorities were put in the model. The results indicated that by optimizing the cropping pattern; we can reduce consumption of harmful inputs without any reduction in yield or profit. Therefore, informing farmers about advantages of organic agriculture and government’s supports could be an effective step towards sustainable production.

Abstract Qazvin plain is one of the capable plains in Iran to produce of agricultural goods. Unfortunately, due to inordinate shafts digging and irregular use of groundwater the level of groundwater has been decreased during two last decades so that water balance is negative now. To conserve the groundwater resources in this plain, strategies and appropriate policies are needed and this requires a better understanding of farmers’ behavior. Therefore, in the present study in order to investigate farmers' behavior in using of groundwater and determine appropriate strategies to conserve of groundwater resources in Qazvin plain, positive mathematical programming and production function with constant elasticity of substitution were used. The investigated strategies included increase in water price, decrease in water availability and deficit irrigation strategy and were investigated under various scenarios. The required data were registered information related to 2011-2012 collected from relevant departments in Qazvin province. The model was solved using GAMS 23/9 software. The results showed that all the investigated strategies led to water saving however the average gross profit changes decreased by 3.13, 8.61 and 5.54 percent with increasing water price, decrease in water availability and deficit irrigation, respectively. Finally, considering the less reduction in average gross profit, the irrigation water pricing and then deficit irrigation strategies were proposed to conserve groundwater resources in Qazvin plain.