نشریه راهبردهای توسعه روستایی
سال پنجم شماره 1 (پیاپی 17، بهار 1397)

Non-farm economy is one of the newly presented concepts in rural development literature. Numerous studies have reviewed evidence and theories towards improving the concept of rural non-farm economy. However, there is not enough empirical studies in this field, especially in the developing countries. The aim of this study is to investigate factors affecting multiplicity of rural non-farm activities in the Kavar Township in the Fars province. Archival research was carried out for conducting this study as research method. Totally, 225 active rural households in various non-farm activities were selected using simple random sampling. The results showed that gender, annual household farm income, and the number of migrated members of household have a positive and significant effect on the dependent variable. The effect of benefiting from government loans on the number of non-farm activities was negative and significant. The prominent role of women in non-farm activities represents the importance of social and cultural dimensions of such activities. The results revealed that multiplicity of non-farm activities is not dependent on education. Therefore, it is not necessary to focus on education in development of rural non-farm activities. Some applicable recommendations have been presented at the end of the manuscript based on the research results.

Today, with the arrival of chemical inputs in agriculture and excessive use of these inputs by farmers, irreparable damage has been done to the environment. Environmental sustainability included actions in line with environment in a long-term period. The use of long-term is due to environmental sustainability. This study was designed to investigate factors affecting environmental behavior of wheat producers and it was done by a survey technique. The research population included all wheat producers in the Buokan Township (5473 people) and 136 of them were selected by using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sampling Table. The sampling method was proportional stratified random sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via the LISREL software was used to evaluate validity and reliability of the research questionnaire. The results of confirmatory factor analysis confirm both "the validity and reliability" of the questionnaire and "the goodness of the latent variables". The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that most of the research hypotheses were confirmed and the “institutional” construct has the most effect on the environmental behavior and 35 percent of the variance change is explained by this construct. On the other hand, factors Economic, Ecological and Social have been mentioned as important in affecting environmental behavior.

During the past a few years, climate change has created a serious challenge for fish farmers. However , Vulnerability of fish farmers has been neglected. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the vulnerability of fish farmers in Ghasre-Shirin fish farming complex. Using Community based Risk Assessment (CRA) paradigm, 46 fish farmers participated in this study. The major premise of CRA is to assess vulnerability and adaptive strategies of fish farming community. Qualitative data was collected using focus group discussion, seasonal calendar, hazard map, vulnerability formula and mind mapping. Results revealed that fish farmers are aware of climate change and that they believed water scarcity, increased air temperature, and dust were the major changes occurring in the community. Fish farmers were most vulnerable towards water scarcity and higher temperature and less vulnerable towards dust. Results also revealed that climate change had a major impact on fish loss, shortened production cycle and lower fish production. Fish farmers used the following adaptive strategies: using mechanized machinery in the farm, using less fish density and releasing heavier weighted fish.The following recommendation are given based on the resulet: cultivation of resistant variteties,use of new technology in fish farming, governmental suffort ,and motivating adaptive strategies among fish farmers.

In many developed countries and developing countries, agriculture is not the only source of employment and income for rural households. Income from non-agricultural activities is also very important. The present study is conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of non-farm income on household food security. The aim of the present study based on its objective is applied research and method of application is descriptive – analytical while the research population is the rural villages of the Fazl township. The number of samples to complete the questionnaire was determined using a sample of 304 households. The questionnaires were filled in a systematic sampling method for calculating the level of food security and the food insecurity scale and standardization calories is used. Classification of food security in rural households shows that 56.9 percent of households suffer from with food insecurity, food insecurity without hunger is 30.3 percent, 11.5 percent and 1.3 percent of households with moderate food insecurity with hunger and food insecurity with hunger are severe. The following classification is based on a basket of commodities for household food security in the rural study and it shows that 40.79 percent of the respondents have food security and 59.21 percent suffer from food insecurity.

Climate change, including drought, has caused nomadic communities of the country to collapse. However, this productive society contributes significantly to the sustainability of livestock production. If the livelihoods of nomadic societies are not diversified, food security of other sectors of the society will be compromised. Therefore, the main question of the research is “what are the strategies for the development of livelihoods of nomads in the Gachsaran County?” This descriptive-analytic research is an applied approach that uses the SWOT technique to explain the strategies for improving livelihood in nomads in the Gachsaran County. Therefore, the SWOT analysis was conducted with the experts of the Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Nomad Affairs Organization. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who had detailed knowledge about nomads situation of the Gachsaran County. For this purpose, the participant group consisted of all experts in the organization (12 persons) who participated in the study. The results showed that the total weight of internal factors evaluation matrix for internal factors tribes was 3.68. While external factors was 3.32 based on the results of the final weight. The findings indicated that the nomads weaknesses compared to the strengths of the total weight had more that is required to plan to minimize weaknesses and maximum use of opportunities to eliminate weaknesses. Matrix IE, defensive strategy (WT) takes into account and identifies the first strategic planning process for the development of the nomadic society of the Gachsaran county. Through this, it has to be specified that codification of the strategy has to be in accordance with the internal strengths and external factors of threats. Finally, in order to improve livelihood of this group, making a preparatory plan to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats specific to each system of tribal community with the participation of nomads and planners is recommended.

In the past decade, developments in economic, social, governing the country's population on the one hand and knowledge of the immigration movement has been severe and in some areas this displacement is associated with greater severity. Among the main causes of rural migration to cities is the issue of employment. Because one of the main reasons for migration unemployment and the nature of jobs The structural weaknesses in rural areas causes the villagers to gain better opportunities and seek to improve social conditions - economic and welfare of their lives to migrate to urban areas. Because the majority of jobs in rural areas are agriculture, investment and migration to the agricultural sector can reduce, eliminate unemployment and improve the welfare of the villagers. This study investigated the role and importance of agriculture in rural life and avoid the crowds in the city where Bahmai County has been made. The field research was a sample of 120 was calculated. The results show that the development of the agricultural sector is decreased by reducing rural-urban migration of rural income gap that the city has. Given the intensity of migration in this region, farmers were more lasting than other rural populations. According to the survey results, it is emphasized that the government's policy on investment and greater attention to agriculture as well as creating employment in rural areas seem to be necessary.

Rural cooperatives including the basic institutions in rural communities play an important role and can be used to apply techniques and participatory approaches to apply the women's task force. On this basis, the present study was done with the aim to review and find the fields of the creation of manufacturing and services cooperatives of women in the rural areas of Abarkuh County and Section NIR of the Taft county that are in Yazd province. The type of research in terms of the objective is applied and it is based on the descriptive analytical research and investigation. The Krejcie and Morgan table was used to determine the statistical sample size and from among the women residing in the scope of the study 72 women were selected. The two characteristics used were that they be an applicant to create a cooperative and be familiar with how to create areas of work and activities for women. Qualitative data collection method was used and a questionnaire was used to obtain quantitative information, and the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods was employed. The findings of the research showed that 81.9 percent of women had a positive view in the executive levels have created in the fields of cooperatives That is the most important they can be the agricultural sector, education and services. This means that they are responsible for taking social and economic and membership role in the cooperative that is in accordance with their own personal interests.

The agricultural sector in the West Azerbaijan province is faced with problems such as lack of capital and investment. Therefore, non-governmental funds for agricultural investment are a suitable solution for correct injection of funds to the agricultural sector. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of Agricultural Supporting Fund in the West Azerbaijan province. The research methodology was a descriptive – survey. The statistical population included 173 organizations of fund shareholders from whom 120 samples were determined by using the Kerejcie and Morgan table. The sampling and selection technique used for choosing the sample society was the stratified random sampling technique. The main tool of data collection was simple random sampling. The main tool of data collection was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability was confirmed by experts and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.712 to 0.935. Data were analyzed by using the SPSS (V.21) software. The R-factor analysis was used to explain the effects of the agricultural supporting fund on agricultural development in the West Azarbaijan province. The results of factor analyses showed that the effects of Agricultural Investment Fund in the West Azerbaijan Province can be classified in 5 effects that include; Economic effects, Social effects, Production effects, Skill effects and Educational effects. These items explained 71.42% of the total variation related to the Agricultural Investment Fund effects in the West Azarbaijan Province.