Improving rural livelihood based on natural resources potentials in Najafabad region, Kurdistan Province, Iran

Aim :

The present study aimed to analyze the strategies based on natural resource potentials to improve the livelihood of rural households in Najafabad region of Kurdistan province using SWOT analysis.

The statistical population of this study included experts and rural residents. The sample size was 337 rural residents and 51 experts based on Cochran formula and matching with Krejcie and Morgan table. The items of questionnaires designed as a rating scale based on the five options Likert. Reliability of questionnaires was determined by Cronbachchr(chr(chr('39')39chr('39'))39chr(chr('39')39chr('39')))s alpha that obtained 0.85 for rural residents and 0.82 for experts. SWOT model was used to determine strategies for improving the livelihood of rural households.

According to the results, “natural potentials such as suitable rangelands for animal husbandry” and “the presence of local, committed and experienced manpower in the village” were determined as the most important strengths from the viewpoint of experts and rural residents, respectively. “Traditional use and exploitation of rangeland and agricultural lands” and “high unemployment rate and low income” were determined as the most important weaknesses from the viewpoint of experts and rural residents, with a relative weight of 86.27 and 86.62, respectively. “The existence of a favorable vision and serious effort for rural development in the country” and “providing credit facilities and low-interest loans” were the most important opportunities.

A competitive strategy has been obtained for improving the livelihood of the studied region relying on teaching and planning new methods of exploiting water resources and planting drought-resistant species.