فصلنامه روستا و توسعه
سال دهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 38، تابستان 1386)

Management is the most important factor in vitality, growth, decline and death of a community; it also controls the path of movement from existing to ideal situation. Villages are specific places that the modes of activity and life in them differ considerably from cities, thus they require a management pattern different from city and one which is consistent with socio-economic and ecological conditions of a village. A historical review of the management and planning trends reveals that market and state inefficiency is the main reason for their failures during the last decades. In recent decades rural planners and decision makers, on one hand, have reached to this conclusion that to achieve sustainable development local community should be present besides the state and the market. On the other hand, a change in management style calls for a new look at the role of effective institutions in village. The dynamics of rural community cannot permit the application of a predetermined prescription in the absence of participation of people, state and market in policy making, planning and management process. Thus, rural planning and management process requires the achievement of an equilibrium, called participatory management, for all the effective powers involved. The goal of this study, on one hand, is to find a style of management which is consistent with village environment, and on the other hand is the establishment of a reasonable interaction between local and non local forces for a more appropriate planning. The main research theme is whether participatory management can lead to the formation of an appropriate mix of actors in rural management scene. The research methodology is descriptive-analytical and based on library research.

Nomadic animal husbandry system takes advantage of marginal lands on a sustainable basis, both ecologically and economically. This system has been negatively affected by modernity and modernization trend and sedentarisation practice has been intensified either spontaneously or organized and supported by states. Sedentarisation provides the nomads with basic needs and services relatively, however it results in destruction of flora and radius erosion of the rangelands surrounding the nomads habitat. This article is relying on field research findings to examine environmental consequences of nomad's sedentarisation. The research findings indicate that despite a decline in the number of the animals kept by settled households, qualitative indices which describe the prevalent practice and management (such as time of cattle entrance and stay duration in the rangeland, the daily grazing radius, etc) are far from ideal and it has led to intensified destruction of settled areas. The paper recommendation to resolve this dilemma include: promoting endogenous and sustainable development in nomadic areas of the province, protecting the interests of nomads, revitalizing indigenous knowledge and diversifying the livelihoods of the sedentarised nomads.

The main inquiry in this study is whether a woman’s place of residence can influence her time of marriage. Modernization, economic and gender equality theories have been employed to design an analytical model for this study and consequently to find a response to the research question. Iran Statistical Center carried out a project that collected socio-economic characteristics of Iranian households in 2001. The required data came from this source and all the women who married at least once were selected. The results of the t-test show that the average age of marriage of women differs significantly in rural (17.6) and urban (18.7) areas. There is a significant relationship between place of residence and other independent variables in the study. Highest correlation is reported between womens place of residence and their level of education, such that urban women have a higher level of education than rural women. On the other hand, there is no relationship between place of residence and womens age at marriage in a multiple regression model. This would lead us to conclude that place of residence has not a meaningful influence on the age of marriage but other variables like level of education can influence age of marriage through the place of residence.

This paper studies the main factors influencing the performance of Village Assistance Bureaus (VAB) in Gilan province. A descriptive survey research methodology is used. The statistical population is composed of 839 VABS in Gilan, and the sample size is 149 by using a multistage sampling and probability proportionate to size in each cluster. The questionnaire’s validity is ascertained by a group of subject specialist experts. The reliability of research items were evaluated by using Cronbach's alpha that indicated high reliability of the items assessing the research variables. Eleven variables entered in a stepwise regression model explaining 72 percent of the variance of the performance of VABS in Gilan province. According to the research findings the following variables had significant influence on VAB performance respectively: organizational collaboration, village assistant’s (v.a.) job satisfaction, village council collaboration, people’s participation, level of participation in training by v.a., facilities and resources available to VAB, v.a.’s income, village geographical situation, consultation of v.a. with local leaders and members of village council, village management record in v.a. family, v.a’s incentives for village development.

In this paper, effective factors on adoption of insurance among wheat producers were studied using logit analysis. The authors used survey methodology and multistage stratified sampling method during 2001-2002 cropping season to collect the required data. The sample size consisted of 240 wheat producers from Tehran province. The content validity of questionnaire was assessed by university professors, Ministry of Jihad for Agricultural experts and farmers in pilot stage. Factor analysis was applied to measure the validity of the following constructs: sustainable agriculture, socio-economic status and relationship with extension agent. The reliability of research items were evaluated by using Cronbach's alpha which was equal to 0.75. The results indicated that 58 percent of farmers did not have any interest in insuring their crop. There is a significant difference between the two groups of farmers, insured and uninsured, with respect to the following variables: farmer age, livestock ownership, socioeconomic status, yield per hectare, value of produced yield, total factor productivity, sustainability, and level of agricultural and economic development of villages. The result of logit analysis showed that farmer age, relationship with extension agents, livestock ownership, socioeconomic status, access to credits, land under wheat cultivation, land under general cultivation, and yield per hectare were the most important factors that affect wheat producers demand for insurance.

The main objective of this research is to evaluate 8 agricultural production cooperatives (APC) in Kaboudarahang county, using rapid rural appraisal methodology. The results of SWOT analysis show that the most important strengths of APCs are increase in the level of technical and specialized awareness and access to inputs among members. In addition APCs can facilitate the relationship between rural people and GOs, and development of mechanization. On the other hand, the most important weaknesses of APCs are capital restriction, inadequate attention to the principles of cooperation, and continuity. They have the support of government, as well as people with socio-economic influence and traditional and indigenous organizations which is an opportunity for them. APCs threats include: lack of long term and holistic planning, lack of a clear legal status, lack of key referees to settle down the conflicts between APCs and GOs. Based on SWOT/TOWS matrix four strategies should be persuaded. The main principle of these is to benefit from opportunities, to strengthen the APCs, and to reduce the outside threats that can prevent APCs from achieving their goals.

A deterministic model based on milk price system in Iran is used to estimate economic weights for milk production, fat and protein percentages and herd life for Gilan indigenous cattle. Two approaches have been adopted for this estimation: maximization of profit and minimization of costs in the long run where total input is restricted and all costs are variable for cattle unit. By simulating data collected from a sample of 100 heads of cattle in Gilan province the sensitivity of these coefficients has been examined with respect to a 20 percent change (increase or decrease) in forage and concentrate prices, the cost of non food items, milk price, the average of milk production, fat and protein percentages and herd life span. The estimated economic weights of milk production, fat and protein percentages and herd life are 895, -27311, -13901 and 196.6 respectively on the basis of adopting profit maximization approach. When adopting cost minimization approach the coefficients are -1.05, 3.2, 1.6 and -6.9. A 20 percent increase in the forage price has an impact on fat and protein weights that is more than two times increase in the price of concentrate in both approaches. The ratio of economic weight of herd life to milk production is positive in both approaches and in most counties. This trait can rise the economic performance more than others and it is in the same direction as milk production trait. Results show the systems differ considerably with respect to nutritional status and its associated cost, milk production and its related expenses and type of supply arrangement. Thus the economic weight movements are not similar against the changes in production factors in different counties. In addition some of the traits have more stability than others such that for each production system a specific economic weight should be estimated.

Rural poverty and unequal distribution of income mainly have emanated from unequal distribution of factors of production and it is one of the main dilemmas of rural communities. Establishment of industries in rural areas can reduce the income gap. This paper is a case study in central district of Mashhad county, comparing the average income of those employed in industry with other sectors and the role of rural industries in the distribution of income. The paper studied 301 households in sample villages in which rural industries have generated employment opportunities and income for low income groups. The results of t-test and Gini coefficient related to employees of industrial and non-industrial sector indicate an improvement in income distribution among employees of industrial units. Wilcoxon test indicates that income satisfaction has improved among employees of industrial units in comparison with past experience. The results of a comparison between the income satisfaction of industrial and non industrial employees indicate a significant difference.