Factors Affecting Sustainable Rural Livelihoods as Perceived by Farmers in Kermanshah Province

The main objective of this study was to determine five (human, social, economic, physical and environmental) factors affecting sustainable rural livelihoods as perceived by farmers in Kermanshah province. Those farmers that agriculture was their main livelihood were considered as the research statistical population. Overall, 250 farmer households were selected as research sample using multi-stages stratified random sampling method. Questionnaire was used to collect data in this descriptive study that was done through survey. Its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was tested by conducting a pilot study. Cronbach's alpha coefficients obtained for the variables in the range of 0.74 to 0.96. Findings revealed that all five factors have significant relationship with sustainable livelihood as perceived by farmers. It is concluded that rural and agricultural development planners and implementers should have holistic and multidimensional approach in order to have enhancing and sustaining agricultural society livelihoods.