Rural Development Strategies

Abstract Today, the choice of decision-making style directly affects the effectiveness of rural development plans. By knowing the characteristics of each of these styles, management institutions can choose the most efficient style according to their local needs and challenges. While the studies show that the decision-making style used in the preparation and implementation of Iran's rural development plans is of low effectiveness, this research was compiled in 1402 to rank decision-making styles based on effectiveness in the preparation and implementation of rural Development plans in Iran. The present research methodology is designed from the philosophy of positivism based on quantitative mode, which is placed in a practical framework with descriptive-explanatory purposes. The data collection method was carried out using the framework of library study and field survey, and the evaluation ranking method based on the distance from the average solution (EDAS) was used to analyze the data. The results obtained from the model show that the participatory decision-making style, with a score of 1, has the highest level of effectiveness in the preparation and implementation of Iran's rural Development plans; the Social decision-making style, with 0857 points, the technical decision-making style with 0.153 points, and authoritarian decision-making style with a minimum score of 0 are ranked next. It is inferred that the participatory decision-making style is more effective than other styles due to having two key features, namely "social outlook" and "accepting a high level of ambiguity" in the decision-making process within rural projects. The participatory decision-making style is more effective than other styles for preparing and implementing Iran's rural Development plans due to the analysis of social contexts, the creation of participation capacity for all stakeholders, and the efficient implementation of rural development programs. Therefore, it is suggested that the planners take advantage of the active participation of all actors, including the villagers, in preparing master plans from preparation to implementation.

Abstract A smart village is a village that uses digital communication, solutions and resources for its development and transformation in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development, and with the characteristic of flexibility, it offers various ways to improve it. In connection with smart growth and smart development, the smart village includes a change in the main way of life of the villagers and then making these areas stable, based on which the development of the smart village leads to the long-term sustainability of the development in the rural areas. Therefore, the aim of the current research is to identify and analyze the drivers of the impact of the smart village approach on the sustainable development of peri-urban settlements in Tehran metropolis within the limits of Islamshahr County. The research method is practical in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology, in such a way that the factors are first identified with the Delphi method and after the validity of its part, it is evaluated by 35 experts on 2023 in the field of information technology and planning and rural development in the form of a questionnaire using the structural analysis method. The results of the research showed that among the 57 key factors of the smart village approach in five economic, social-cultural, physical-physical, environmental and institutional-management sectors affecting the sustainability of peri-urban settlements, 17 factors have been introduced as key drivers, of which five the factor of increasing the transfer of skills and economic capacity building through the digital divide(+10), the use of electronic facilities and the Internet for educational classes to use virtual and distance education(+5), creating a suitable platform for increasing the access of residential units to fixed Internet in the village(+9), increasing attention to consumption management optimizing fuel and energy in villages and increasing villagers' participation in decision-making(+5), implementation and maintenance of projects by direct local managers (+8) have been introduced by experts as the most important critical drivers in the region.

Abstract  Given the source of water inflows to Sistan in Afghanistan, water scarcity is one of the main factors limiting the development of agricultural activities in the region. Recent droughts have led to the drying up of vital arteries, the destruction of productive bases, and the intensification of widespread migration to other parts of Iran. In this regard, the irrigation project of 46,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Sistan in order to transfer current floods from Afghanistan to natural pits known as wells and wells and the possibility of proper use of these floods for agricultural development and regional sustainability Was approved and implemented. Therefore, in this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of the 46,000-hectare Sistan plain irrigation project on the economic sustainability of the villages. The statistical population of the study was the residents of 40 villages of Hamoon city. Using the Cochran's formula, out of 19,133 households, 346 people were interviewed. Swara, Mabak, GIS software and Wilcoxon tests in SPSS software for statistical analysis were used to analyze the data. According to the research results, the most effective implementation of the 46,000-hectare irrigation project is related to value-added components and water management. Comparison of changes in the level of economic stability of villages based on the Mobak model shows that with the implementation of the plan of economic stability level, 20% of villages have decreased, 45% of villages have not changed and in 35% of villages their stability has increased compared to before. Spatial distribution of villages in terms of the level of economic stability shows that the southern and eastern parts of the study area before the project were faced with severe water restrictions (due to the distance from the wells) and with the implementation of the plan and optimal access to agricultural water. Through the irrigation network, there have been positive changes in the economic activities of these villages.

Abstract In the sustainability of human life, agriculture and its products have a fundamental role. In this regard, fundamental changes must be made in the agricultural sector, because the food security of urban and rural households in the world depends on the sustainability of the agricultural sector. In the meantime, creativity and innovation in the agricultural sector can guarantee this food security for rural households. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the role of creative agriculture in the sustainability of food security of rural households in the villages of Roshtkhar Township. This applied research was done with descriptive-analytical method. The statistical population of the research consists of all heads of rural households in Roshtkhar Township, and using the Cochran formula, 377 heads of households were selected as the study sample. The main tools of the research were researcher-made questionnaires, field observations and library studies. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire have been confirmed by obtaining the opinions of relevant experts and conducting a pre-test with 30 questionnaires. Further, the questionnaires were distributed in 20 villages of the study area. In order to analyze the data, Shannon entropy methods, Kupras technique and spss, Excel, Matlab software were used. The findings of the research confirm that the villages of Fathabad, Basfar, Abbas Abad Faramishan, Jant Abad have the highest stability of food security and the villages of Sadegh Abad, Rivand, Kazem Abad, Moharram Abad, Ali Naghi Safali have the least stability of food security in the region. The research results show that there is a strong significant relationship between creative agriculture and sustainability of food security, so that the correlation coefficient between creative agriculture and sustainability of food security is 0.741.

Abstract Investigating the regional differences in the quality of development in rural areas is an important prerequisite for formulating specific programs and policies of rural restoration and recreation. The actual state of rural development can also be evaluated through development indicators. Therefore, the present study seeks to examine the quality of rural development at the regional level and its space inequalities in Lorestan province. The present study is descriptive-analytical in terms of practical purpose. The research approach is also positivist and positivism. The information and data of this study were compiled in two ways of realistic information and data (secondary statistics and information) and the extracted data (mental information). The statistical population of the research in the mental sector includes experts in various disciplines, which were selected by 50 samples using a targeted non -possible sampling method to complete the questionnaire. A combination of the hierarchical analysis method and the spatial correlation of the elements and indicators of rural development quality and its spatial pattern in Lorestan province in 1402. The results showed that the elements of rural development quality in Lorestan province include four dimensions of weight development (0.161), environmental biodiversity (0.159), industrial resuscitation and development (0.129) and rural wealth/economy (weight Are 125/0). Space Pattern of Rural Development Quality in Lorestan Province showed that there are obvious space differences in each of the dimensions of rural development. The quality of rural development in Lorestan province consists of a north-south pattern (in central), east, west and the "Highest-Balas-Kam-Most-Most" center. The identified spatial pattern can be used to determine distinct development paths and improve the quality of rural development. Improving the livelihoods of residents, optimizing industrial structure and workflow, enhancing rural job opportunities and improving employment quality, creating educational facilities to enhance human resource knowledge and enhancing rural wealth and economy. It is.

Abstract The low-income level in rural communities has caused agriculture to be unable to provide the income needed by the rural households on its own, especially due to climate changes and drought. Diversifying sources of income is a solution, one of which is rural tourism, which is always facing the challenge of attracting tourists and gaining the satisfaction and loyalty of tourists. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors affecting loyalty to rural tourism destinations in Arak City. The research population is tourists in rural areas of Arak City, who were selected by multi-stage random sampling method. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of items to measure the dependent variable of loyalty to the tourist destination, the independent variables included: destination satisfaction, destination image, destination personality, memorable tourism experience, destination facilities, destination potential, hospitality, and travel characteristics items. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was checked using the opinion of subject experts and the necessary corrections were applied. Also, a pilot study was conducted to check the reliability of the research tool among the community and outside the sample by completing 30 questionnaires from tourists and using the Cronbach's Alpha test, the reliability of the tool was confirmed with coefficients between 0.66 and 0.96. The information was collected in the early months of 1402 and analyzed using SPSS24 and AMOS24 software. In the form of a measurement model, convergent validity and discriminant validity of the research instrument were evaluated and confirmed, and to investigate the role of factors affecting loyalty to rural tourism destinations in Arak City, two structural models (direct and intermediate) were designed. The direct structural model explained 64% of the changes in tourists' destination loyalty. The results of the total structural model after entering destination satisfaction as a mediator in the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable explain 66% of the changes in destination satisfaction and 65% of the changes in loyalty to the destination (with an increase of 1% compared to the direct structural model). Practical suggestions are provided for future studies and executive organizations.

Abstract Climate change, especially changing precipitation patterns, is a challenging reality that affects different sectors of society, including the agricultural sector, which is highly dependent on the weather. This study aimed to predict drought conditions in future periods and compare current water consumption patterns and net water demand of 10 crops in five villages of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. To model climate change, daily data of minimum temperature, maximum temperature, precipitation, and sunny hours during the period (1986-2022) of the Yasuj and Gachsaran stations were collected from the provincial meteorological organization. Based on these data, the current water consumption pattern was estimated and net water demand of these products was calculated according to the climate of the province. To study drought and change rainfall patterns, three general circulation models that simulate precipitation well in most regions of the country were simulated by the LARS-WG model, then the drought profile was calculated using the ZimaSPI graphic function in MATLAB software. The results of monthly and annual precipitation patterns showed that precipitation in the studied area increases in the coming years, The results of monthly precipitation distribution indicate a decrease in winter precipitation and an increase in precipitation in spring and early autumn, which is often out of reach as the flood. Drought index analysis also indicates an increase in drought continuity and more occurrence of mild droughts. According to the results of precipitation and drought, the irrigation requirements in 5 villages and dryland and irrigated wheat, rainfed and irrigated barley, corn, corn, forage maize, watermelon, potato, onion, alfalfa, clover, and rice were investigated. Four scenarios including an unchanged level of access to water and a reduction of water quota of 10, 20, and 30 percent were used to investigate farmers' behavior. The study of changing water availability scenarios showed that the net water requirement was significantly lower compared to the water consumption pattern. The highest difference was observed in water requirement and amount of water consumed with 298% per rice and the lowest difference in water requirement and water use in clover (13%).

Abstract Sericulture, an agricultural activity that generates employment and empowers villagers, plays a pivotal role in Guilan province, renowned as a prominent innovation hub in the country. However, the farming sector in the country has faced stagnation in recent years due to various obstacles and challenges. Consequently, aquaculture and tea-making activities have been relegated to secondary roles. To gain insights into the factors influencing the sericulture industry in Guilan province, a three-stage Delphi research study was conducted in 2022, focusing on silkworm producers (Noghandaran), factory owners, and experts. Through snowball sampling, 17 individuals were selected as research participants. The results revealed that experts agreed on 28 promoting factors and 11 inhibiting factors, with a significance level of 0.01. According to 94.11% of the experts, the primary factors hindering the development of the sericulture industry in Guilan province were the aging of mulberry trees, the outdated structure of silk production facilities, and the lack of credit opportunities in the field of education. Additionally, the results indicated that the renovation and revitalization of mulberry trees and the empowerment of silkworm breeders (Noghandaran) through education were identified as the most significant driving factors, with 100% agreement from the experts. Based on these findings, it is crucial to consider specific measures such as purchasing suitable silkworm breeders' cocoons, providing low-interest bank facilities for the reconstruction and revival of mulberry trees and silk production facilities, and organizing effective practical classes. These actions will contribute to promoting and enhancing the sericulture industry in Guilan province.