Analysis of Barriers and Limitations to Economic Empowerment of Rural Households (Case study: Central and Zebarkhan Districts in Neyshabur County)

Empowerment of rural households is one of the most important goals in all rural development plans as it is impossible to achieve without empowering the less affluent segments of society. Therefore, this research attempted to investigate the barriers and limitations to economic empowerment of rural households in the Central and Zeberkhan Districts of Nishapur County. The research method was a descriptive-analytic documentary field research. The required data were collected by completing village and household questionnaires and completing the field observation form. Rural households living in the study area (33041 households) constitute the statistical population of this study and the sample size has been determined using the Cochran's formula, 373 heads of households. Data analysis was performed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique by Expert Choice software. Statistical and spatial analyses were carried out by SPSS and ArcGIS. The findings showed that there were sever or extremely sever barriers and limitations to the economic empowerment of 49.3% of the studied households. On the other hand, the results of comparing the average level of influence of the factors in the occurrence or intensification of barriers and limitations of economic empowerment of rural households confirm that indicators related to the lack of job opportunities with a coefficient of 0.1733, low income and uncertainty of its stability with a coefficient of 0.1661 and the weakness of resources and the inadequacy of production methods with a coefficient of 0.0501, are the most influential factors in the occurrence or intensification of obstacles and restrictions, respectively.