Spatial Analysis of Livelihood Assets of Farmers: A Case Study of Rural Areas, Shazand County of Iran

This study aimed at measuring the livelihoods of rural farmers based on the field method in Shazand County of Markazi province  of Iran. It was conducted in a documentary, analytical and field method. The statistical population included households in villages of the County. The sample size was calculated 370 rural households by using Cochran formula and was distributed in a cluster classification method among the villages. Field data was collected through questionnaires. The study results showed that the livelihood assets were not equal in terms of sustainability; financial and natural assets with the averages of 2.59 and 2.84 were the most unsustainable and physical asset with an average of 3.52 was the most sustainable dimensions of the framers' livelihoods in the County. Also, the produced interpolation maps showed that the spatial distribution of sustainable livelihood assets followed the eastern-western pattern, so that the eastern villages had more sustainable livelihoods than the western ones.