Analyzing the Effects of Urban Agriculture on Social Capital of Stakeholders at Razi University of Kermanshah

Urban agriculture with the aim of completing urban food needs, providing ecosystem and environmental services has multidimensional effects on increasing cultural and social values and even increasing economic resilience in any society. Urban agriculture is one of the most important factors affecting the increase of social capital. The present study was conducted simultaneously with the implementation of an urban agriculture plan (green garden) and with the aim of investigating the effects of urban agriculture on the social capital of stakeholders at Razi University of Kermanshah applying survey method. The statistical population of the study was 150 stakeholders, 108 of whom were selected as the sample size according to Krejcie Morgan’s table. The questionnaire method was used for data collection and its validity was confirmed by expert choice. The results of the study demonstrated that the effects of urban agriculture implementation on social capital have been greater in people who participate with family on farm. The findings from the evaluation of structural equation model showed that all dimensions of social cohesion, social interaction, social awareness, social trust and social participation at the level of 99% confidence have a positive effect on people' social capital. Thus, "social participation" with a path coefficient of 0.825 had the most significant effect on the social capital of the people and social awareness (with a path coefficient of 0.599) had the least significant effect on the social capital of the people. Therefore, this will provide the conditions for strengthening social interaction and participation, as well as social trust, and will pave the way for culture-building commensurate with the development of urban agriculture and the results obtained from it can be used in the process of planning and macro-agricultural policies and creating new social capital in the country.Extended Abstract1-IntroductionWith the increasing population of cities and the decrease of rural population, the destruction of agricultural lands and appearing the severity of the effects of environmental degradation caused by the growth of cities, managers and urban planners seek new solutions to solve urban crises. Urban agriculture with the aim of meeting urban food needs, providing ecosystem and environmental services, increasing cultural and social values ​​and even increasing economic resilience, has multidimensional effects in any community. Social capital is one of the important effects that urban agriculture can have on.2- Materials and MethodsIn the present study, the green garden project was implemented as one of the urban agricultural projects with an area of ​​6000 square meters at Razi University of Kermanshah. Then, the study was conducted as a survey method with the aim of investigating the effects of urban agriculture on the social capital of stakeholders. The statistical population of this study was 150 stakeholders, 108 of whom were selected as the sample size based on Krejcie Morgan table. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire in which, five components of social interaction, social cohesion, social participation, social trust and social awareness were used to measure social capital and its content validity was confirmed using the opinions of experts. After collecting and categorizing the data, data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS21 software environment as well as structural equation modeling using Smart PLS3 software.3- Results and DiscussionThe results showed that 57.3% of the respondents were male and 42.7% were female, of which 71.9% were native to Kermanshah region. According to the findings of the study, 31.5% of the studied individuals were faculty members and 68.5% were non-faculty members. The results also showed that 88.8% of the respondents referred to the urban agricultural project as a family and 11.2% as an individual. The results of Friedman test to compare the dimensions of social capital among the individuals showed that the effects of urban agriculture on the dimensions of social capital are significantly different, so that the dimension of "social cohesion" with the highest average rank (3.89) and the dimension of "social awareness" with the lowest value of the average rank (1.76) were in the first and fifth place, respectively. The results of comparing the effects of urban agriculture on social capital based on the views of different groups revealed that the impact of urban agriculture on social capital with respect to "how to be present in agriculture" at the level of 99% confidence, had a significant difference with each other. In this regard, no significant differences were observed among the individuals with respect to "gender", "being native" and "occupation". The results for t-values ​​also proved this result. Therefore, the findings indicate that all dimensions of social cohesion, social interaction, social awareness, social trust and social participation had a positive effect on the social capital of stakeholders at 99% confidence level. Thus, the dimension of "social participation" with a path coefficient of 0.825 has the most significant impact on the social capital of the subjects and based on indigenous knowledge in strengthening the social network of users, increasing knowledge and awareness and the creation of trust within and outside the group has been effective, which has led to increased social interaction between stakeholders and their close participation and cooperation, has paved the way for solidarity and double cohesion among users. Within the dimensions of social capital, social participation had the greatest effect and social awareness had the least effect on the social capital of the subjects. In social participation, this can be due to the spirit of participation and interaction, and in social awareness, due to the lack of comprehensive and accurate information among stakeholders. Accordingly, the implementation of urban agriculture in the first place increases the spirit of solidarity and cooperation and then the existence of affectionate relationships among stakeholders, and on the other hand increases interaction between families, and reduces tensions between them.4- ConclusionThe present study provides the conditions for strengthening social interaction and participation as well as social trust and has paved the way for a culture-building commensurate with the development of urban agriculture. The obtained results could be utilized in the planning process and macro-agricultural policy makings and creating new social capital in the country. Finally, considering that mutual trust is one of the essential factors for the success of any project, it is recommended to implement the administration and service steps of urban agricultural plans and projects in each region in a regular and accurate manner to build up the trust of the stakeholders.