Determining the economic-social and ecological indicators for beekeeping model in rangelands (case study: Sarayan city-South Khorasan province)

This study aimed to identify the economic, social, and ecological indicators affecting the beekeeping model in rangelands in the Sarayan region of South Khorasan province. This research is applied in terms of purpose, descriptive-analytical method, and quantitative in terms of data collection. The statistical population of the study included all ranchers in the Sarayan region. Using Krejcie and Morgan's table, 180 ranchers were selected by random sampling method. The data collection tool and information were a researcher-made questionnaire designed to assess the tendency of pastoralists to beekeeping in the rangeland and determine the main indicators of their unwelcome to this type of livelihood using a semi-structured interview method. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.86 using Cronbach's alpha test. The results showed that in 61.7% of ranchers, the tendency to beekeeping was reported to be high and very high. So that there is a significant correlation between age (at 99% level), level of education (at 99% level), and percentage of rangeland dependence (at 95% level) with a tendency to beekeeping in rangeland. However, this correlation was negative for age and percentage of rangeland dependence. The results of ranking the important indicators of ranchers' reluctance to beekeeping also showed the indicators of knowledge, insufficient knowledge and skills, the safety of hives in the rangeland, low risk-taking spirit, and rangeland ownership as the most important social indicators, cost of providing, transferring and maintaining hives in the rangeland. The most important economic indicators and short indicators of the rangeland flowering period, poor vegetation, lack of sufficient water resources, and environmental risks (drought, storms, pests, and diseases) were considered the ecological indicators from the perspective of rangers.