Explaining the Factors Related to the Development of Medicinal Plant Cultivation and the Improvement of the Employment Status of Farmers from the Experts’ Perspective in Mazandaran Province

Business development and job creation is one of the basic needs of developing countries including Iran. Considering the growing world markets as well as the climatic and resources conditions of the Mazandaran province, the development of medicinal plant cultivation in the appropriate areas of the province can be effective in the field of development and job creation in the rural areas of the province and help to improve the conditions. This research was designed and implemented with the aim of explaining the factors related to the development of medicinal plant cultivation in Mazandaran province from the experts’ perspective in order to improve the employment status of farmers.

This research is with a quantitative paradigm and descriptive-correlation type, and a survey technique was used to collect data. The statistical population of this research included all the experts of agricultural Jihad centers in Mazandaran province (434 experts). The required sample size was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table, and the simple random sampling method was used to select the samples. The data collection tool was a questionnaire, its validity was confirmed by a group of experts in agricultural extension and education. The questionnaire was sent online as well as a part of it in printed form to the selected experts and finally 166 completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. To determine the level of need and necessity of paying attention to each of the factors related to the development of medicinal plant cultivation and improving the employment status of farmers, Borich's needs assessment model was used.

Based on the results of the research, among the factors related to the development of medicinal plant cultivation and the improvement of the employment status of farmers, in the dimension of producers’ training, the first priority of need and necessity to pay attention from the perspective of the experts was providing training through the creation of model farms for medicinal plants.In the dimension of institutional and structural factors, among the examined subjects, the first priority of need and necessity of attention was the subject of standardization of product packaging and the subject of paying credit facilities with low interest to cultivate medicinal plants in farms took second place.

According to the results of the research and taking into account the fact that most of the farmers of the province are old and traditional and risk-averse, creating model farms and observing the possibility of cultivating medicinal plants and its benefits in the conditions of the region by farmers can lead to acceptance and development of medicinal plants cultivation, therefore, it is suggested that the planners and policy makers of the responsible organizations, especially the agricultural jihad organization, should prioritize the creation of model farms in their plans. Also, providing the necessary facilities and training to farmers by responsible organizations such as Agricultural Jihad or the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, so that farmers are able to sell their products with proper packaging and appearance to the domestic and foreign markets, can lead to proper sales and income generation for farmers.