Prediction of Sustainable Livelihood of Rural Households based on Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) in Hamedan Province

Rural women, as one of the most important social groups, play an important role in the rural development process. Economically, rural women, in addition to being agricultural producers, can sustain their livelihood by controlling resources and household income. The purpose of this study was to investigate the index of women's empowerment in agriculture and its role in improving the sustainable livelihood of rural households. The study follows the quantitative paradigm and empirical research method in terms of purpose. Also, in terms of data collection and analysis, it is a survey based on a descriptive-correlational analysis. The statistical population of this study was rural women involved in agricultural work in Tuyserkan county of Hamadan province (20 villages) from which 140 people were randomly selected as a sample. Data were collected using a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by experts’ opinions and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was done in the IBMSPSS software environment and the results showed that rural women's empowerment in agriculture has a positive and significant effect on the sustainable livelihood of rural households. In addition, all components of women's empowerment in the agriculture index except for community leadership had a significant correlation with the sustainable livelihood of rural households. Also, the income component of women's empowerment in the agriculture index was identified as the strongest predictor of rural households’ sustainable livelihood.