Factors Affecting Land Fragmentation: A Case Study of Khomeinishahr County in Esfahan Province of Iran

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting land fragmentation in Khomeinishahr County. These factors were classified into four categories: socio-cultural, economic, farming, and physical; then the relations of each factor to land fragmentation were examined. The statistical population of this study was the farmers of Khomainishahr county. Using random sampling and Cochran formula 115 farmers were selected and data were collected through a questionnaire. The result of correlation analysis indicated that age, agricultural record, the size of lands, the area under cultivation, number of products under cultivation, the type of farming system, and average cost of production had a positive and significant relationship with land fragmentation. The average income per hectare, the distance of land to water source, and the distance of land to village had a negative and significant relationship with land fragmentation. Also no relationship observed between the level of literacy and the number of farmer household members with land fragmentation.