Assessment and Comparison the Factors Affecting Wood Farming in Golestan Province based on Experts and Wood Farmers’ Point of View

Considering the fact that only 8.83 percent of Iran area is covered by forests in which only 1.2 percent to Northern forests, therefore its low area would not enough for national wood demands, thus wood farming with fast-growing species besides natural forests can decrease the pressure on natural resources. Regrading the role of wood farming in Iran as well as lack of farmers tendency in wood farming, this study aimed at identification and comparison of factors affecting wood farming in Golestan province based on experts and wood farmers’ point of view.

since the main aim of this study was identification of strengths, weaknesses and opportunities affecting wood farming, factors were identified using face to face and focused group discussion (FGD) with knowledgeable experts and wood farmers in Golestan province. Then, a semi-structural questionnaire was designed to determine the factors weights and their priority. Also, Questionnaire validity and reliability were approved. Next, questionnaires were completed by experts and wood farmers of Gorgan, Aq-qala, Ramian, Gonbad Kavous, Ali-abad and Kordkuy cities. Finally, gathered data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Through the result, total number of 37 factors were identified: strengths (15 factors), opportunities (14 factors) and weaknesses (8 factors). Moreover, prioritization of the factors showed that the main factors with highest mean rank were: “effect of education level and skill of wood farmers in development of wood farming” in strengths factors (common among farmers and experts) with mean rank of 3.285 (farmers) and 3.527 (experts). “Introducing suitable species and varieties for wood farming with high yield and tolerance and adoptability” regarding opportunities (common among farmers and experts) with mean rank of 4.285 (farmers) and 4.194 (experts) and in with regard to weaknesses “low governant subsidies and also its long official procedure” (common among farmers and experts) with mean rank of 4.571 (farmers) and 4.111 (experts). Additionally, comparison results showed not significant difference almost for all the factors between farmers and experts’ point of view.

Lack of significant difference between experts and wood farmers’ point of view regarding factors affecting wood farming can prove the existence and intensity of aforementioned factors in reality. Therefore, in order to achieve national wood farming goals and support the 6th Development programme of agricultural and natural resources of the country, efforts should be focused on decreasing and omitting of weaknesses and enforcing strengths and ultimately, using the opportunities in wood farming section.