فصلنامه پژوهشهای روستایی
سال پنجم شماره 2 (پیاپی 18، تابستان 1393)

Investigating the economic structure of rural areas of the country particularly Mashhad has revealed that agriculture is the main factor for making a living، and that unfortunately in most of the development programs، it has been considered as the only and the most important economic factor in rural areas. Although this structure، given the limited economy of rural areas and their specific features، could work in the past، considering the expansion of the markets and their undeniable effect on rural spaces، and also considering many unsustainabilities in several natural، economic، and social dimensions، it can no longer guarantee sustainable residences and occupations in rural areas. Most of the scholars in the area of development have proposed the diversification approach within the framework of sustainable rural development. Based on this theory، diversity is a necessary factor for maintaining the sustainability of rural economy and development; it is suggested that following this approach will contribute to the stability sustainability of economic structures. Based on this theory، sustainability is created and maintained when a system has numerous and diverse elements; the more diverse a system is، the more ability it will have in reducing internal and external discrepancies. This will result in sustainability، dynamicity، and stability during long periods and in different places not only against internal tensions but also when external challenges are faced. In addition to investigating level of sustainability in rural residences in Mashhad، this study aims to discover whether sustainable villages are the economically diverse ones. It also aims to find out what relationship exists between levels of sustainability and diversity of economic activities. The significance of this study first lies in the fact that it uses cluster analysis which can provide a new model for investigation of sustainability; second، it investigates sustainability in relation to diversification. The method of study is descriptive-analytic. The data needed in this study was collected using survey (Village and Family Questionnaire) and library research methods. The population under investigation in this study included the rural residences in Mashhad، and the unit of analysis was village. The sample size was determined in two levels for village and family using the Cochran formula. The number of sample villages and families was determined to be 34 and 350 respectively. The sample villages were chosen using the stratified sampling method. To ensure the content validity of the questionnaire، the opinions of the scholars in the areas of geography and social sciences were used as the reference. In addition، to measure the reliability of the questionnaire، alpha Cronbach formula was used. In this study، the sustainability of rural residences was the dependent variable and the diversity of economic activities played the role of independent variable. To measure sustainability، several techniques exist which can be used differently based on the type of study. In the present study، cluster analysis is used to quantify sustainability and classify residences. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS and Excel. Statistical tests used in the present study include cluster analysis، variance analysis with the Tukey test، and Pearson correlation. Data Analysis: In the present study، to measure and assess sustainability، cluster analysis، which is statistical method to determine homogeneous clusters، was used. The created Rural Research Quarterly Vol. 5، No. 2، Summer 2014 5 clusters were labeled sustainable، semi-sustainable، and unsustainable based on the value of the sustainability index. The results of cluster analysis revealed that 9% of the villages under investigation were sustainable in economic، social، and environmental dimensions; 44% were semi-sustainable، and 47. 1% were unsustainable. In fact، 91. 2% of the sample villages were unsustainable or semisustainable. To compare the mean of the diversity of economic activities in sustainable، semi-sustainable، and unsustainable groups، Fischer method was used for conducting a unilateral variance analysis (F test). Since the level of significance for this test was less than 0. 05، one can say that the mean of the diversity of economic activities for the three groups was not the same; in other words، there was a significant difference between the mean of the diversity of economic activities among these three groups. According to the results of HSD test، the mean of the diversity of economic activities in the unsustainable، semi-sustainable، and sustainable was 27. 5، 30. 7، and 38. 6 respectively. These results determine the answer for the first research question in this study. In fact، sustainable and stable villages are those which enjoy higher levels of the diversity of economic activities. To investigate the relationship between levels of sustainability and diversification، Pearson correlation was used. The correlation coefficient found between the abovementioned variables (0. 77) shows that there is a positive and direct relationship between them. In fact، the increase in the level of sustainability is accompanied by an increase in the diversity of economic activities. This shows that the sustainability of rural residences is deeply affected by the diversity of economic activities in an area. Therefore، the answer to the second research question is clear: more diversity in economic activities results in more sustainability in rural residences. The results of the survey and theoretical investigations done in the present study show that the diversity of economic activities in rural areas meaningfully contributes to the sustainability of these areas. The results of the present study are consistent with those of the studies conducted in South Asia (Feldman، 1999)، West Africa (Ackah & Medvedev، 2010)، and China (Liu et al.، 2003). It can be argued that a society with a diverse economy is more likely to become stable and sustainable. This issue has been considered by international organizations، developed countries، and some of the developing countries (China، India، Malaysia); and it is necessary to include this in the formulation of policies which are developed for rural areas in the country because simply continuing the current trend without any reforms and without paying attention to diversification will certainly result in the increase of unsustainability in rural residences.

Today، traditional activities in rural areas are not effective to creating new job opportunities، so governments need to new strategies for creating employment in rural areas. Developing entrepreneurship and self- employment in rural areas is an important strategy for improving job opportunities in this area. In recent years، a special attention is paid to entrepreneurship and entrepreneur in different countries and most scholars believe that entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs have a considerable role in economic growth and development especially in developing countries (Rahmati & et al، 2010). Entrepreneurship plays also an important role in social development of different societies. From the economic viewpoint، entrepreneurship referred to the production factors that assists the economic growth through discovering and creating new opportunities and from social viewpoint، contributes the improvement of social situations through increasing job or employment chances (Mohapatra & et al، 2007). In rural area، entrepreneurship considered as a complimentary section in economy and job-creating activities due to response or react to the stagnancy and problems available in agricultural sector and also as a survival strategy for rural families (Petrin، 1994، Smits، 2004). Therefore، the development of entrepreneurship in rural area can act as a crucial force for the development of this area. In general، entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for identifying opportunities، acquiring benefits، and removing such problems as unemployment، the lack of dynamic human resources، low efficiency، quality reduction of products and services، and economic stagnancy (Maclin & Richard، 2004). Thus creating employment in rural area through entrepreneurship and selfemployment should be planned as a strategic policy by the planners and policy makers. Accordingly، this study was an attempt to investigate the inhibiting factors in tendency to rural youths to self-employment. Present study aimed at to investigate the inhibiting factors in tendency to rural youths to self-employment through using a surveying methodology. In this method by sampling and studying selected samples from the target community، the distribution، frequencies and the relationship between variables have been studied. In this regard، the most common method for data collection is questionnaire. The accuracy of indices and variables in the questionnaire or face validity has been confirmed by a group of experts. In order to determine the reliability of the questionnaire، a pre-test process was used through filling the questionnaires by 25 rural youth and a Cronbach''s Alpha test was used through SPSS software and it was 85% which shows an acceptable rate. The statistical population of this study was rural youth of the county. The samples were 184 that were calculated by the Cochran formula and the data was chosen through the Cluster sampling. In this research both descriptive and analytic methods were used. In descriptive part، to describe the variables، such statistics as frequency، percentage، standard deviation، and mean were used. In analysis section، factor analysis was used to access inhibiting factors in tendency to rural youths to self-employment. As mentioned later، a factor analysis method was used in order to classify factors inhibiting the self-employment among rural youth. To determine whether or not the variables are usable for factor analysis، Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s tests is usually used. In this study، the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value (KMO=0. 731) indicated an adequate sampling for the factor analysis and the result of Bartlett’s test of Sphericity was significant (p<0. 1). In the first round of the factor analysis، six factors were extracted. These extracted factors had the highest amount of overlap (in terms of calculated variance). This means these factors can explain more than 54. 84% of the total discrepancy among the variables. The first category of the factors was labeled as infrastructural factor. This factor has the greatest effect and importance in expressing variables and in general، accounts for 10. 60 Percent of total variance of variables. Educational factor was expressing 9. 74 Percent of total variance of variables. The third factor was the personality factor that explained 9. 05 Percent of total variance of variables. The fourth factor was the economic factor that explained 8. 61 Percent of total variance of variables. The fifth factor was the supportive factor that explained 8. 52 Percent of total variance of variables and the sixth factor was the cultural factor. Unemployment in rural area has become as one of the basic challenges and this problem has engaged the policymakers and all stakeholders'' organizations in order to find proper solutions in this regard. In this regard، entrepreneurship is considered as one of the most important solutions that can be as an appropriate attempt to create new employments and therefore this troubleshoot must be as the highest priority in the governmental policies. In this study، the impeding factors self-employment among rural youth was analyzed. The results of this analysis showed that، six factors include infrastructure، educational، personality، economic، supportive and cultural factors were identified as the most inhibiting factors the development of selfemployment among rural youth. Thus، it is recommended that easy access to credits، granting low-interest loans to the rural youth are of priority in government policies in order to accelerate and develop entrepreneurship in rural area.

Some visulizers believed that، home business opportunities، caused self employment، thought removing deficiency and fulfillment of local requirement in an Economic and remove difficulties for perdurable development. These jobs considered as Essential and vital Economic activities in developing countries and from making job opportunity and renovation in the field of products and services، lead to diversity and change ability in every countries society and Economy and combine with two specific characteristics include، low percapita cost and immediate yield could utilize as sufficient alternative to reduce unemployment and for youth، Accommodate point to start up individual jobs، because starting it up compare to other businesses، because of Diversity in products and services distribution or diversity implaces and moments of distribution، have lost of adherent and big number of governments tried to expand and start up it، among diversity of people specially women، because in recent world، intend to women role in economic and social development process in unavoidable able in each society and global arena، making job opportunity by furnishing employment for manpower specially women are the most essential program. Since proportion of villager population compare whole countries population are reduced in most of world countries in most developing countries، this rate is under 10 percent. Despite to subjects related to urbanism nature development in whole worlds، the main cause of this reduction is restriction the capacity of villager area productivity (specially in agricultural domains). By industrialization and scientific agriculture in countries villager production advantage، increases، consequently، it required less number manpower، that automatically it results unemployment and reduces in villagers income. Activate rural، could help، social security and reduce big number of disagree able. Even growth reverse Emigration in Iran. Consequently، in rural area on of basic employment strategies، movement toward nonagricultural industries specially house business. Accommodate field to active women and girls are available by house business. Because most deprived people are villagers if reducing program of poverty want to be successful، must focus on rural people. In one hand poverty has connection with sexuality and poverty is post rural one of yesterday. They are deprived from all facilities، to improve mending situation from quality and quantity. These rural female help in families subsistence، because in most cases، husband income couldn''t support life expenses and farming and retiary income which has been done by rural women، sometimes are more than their husbands. Accordingly، we should certainly planning manpower in Agriculture field specifically rural women and female، in this case because businesses have high situation، because this jobs have high information to our culture and based on different reason، such as historical background of master- trainee activities، women high portion in national economy and enhancing of production in this group of society it seems that advocating this jobs could considerably impressionable and expanding this job opportunities in rural area because of presence and social relation and high cooperation attempt، responsibility، obligation and engagement to progression in rural people، could be more successful from urban area. These type of businesses have significant role in wealth and economic growth and development of community’s social capital. There fore the purpose of this applied research was to investigate rural women and expert''s views on barriers and suitable solution of developing household jobs with descriptive survey methodology in 2011. Statistical population was 15000 rural women and 50 experts of rural household jobs. Sampling method was proportional stratified random sample and based on Morgan (n=375) rural women were selected and 50 expert selected based on case study. Validity of the instrument were measured (face validity) by a panel of expert، and reliability were measured by Cranach''s alpha coefficient for each the obstacles to development of household jobs such as: family، personal، economic، governmental and personality. Calculated respectively (0. 87، 0. 89، 0. 76، 0. 88، 0. 87)، which indicates the suitability of the instrument. Data analysis constructed by (SPSS) software showed that the most important barriers to the development of household jobs from the perspective of rural woman were: personal barriers، interpersonal، economical، family and governmental barriers، and from the experts’ view the barriers were respectively: family، individual، personal، governmental and economical barriers. The correlation study showed positive and significant relationship between membership in the organization and development of household jobs، level of women education with an error probability of.، and significant relationship between families، personal، economic، governmental، personality and development of household jobs with an error probability of 0. 1. While there were no significant correlation between age & marital status، having or not having a role model، success or failure of role mole. Having personal experience in the field of household jobs and development of household jobs.

Food insecurity has been and still is an important concern for many nations around the world. In fact، ameliorating food insecurity and hunger is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals، which has been adopted by 189 States in September 2000 Millions of dollars have been dispersed by governments، donors، international aid agencies، and multi-lateral development bodies in the developing countries including Ethiopia to address the problem of food insecurity and hunger. Despite the many programs and projects on food security، there are still millions of food insecure people around the world with many of them living in developing countries particularly in Africa. Cycles of food insecurity were common in India prior to the green revolution era in the 1970s. The revolution laid the foundation for food security in India through dramatic increases in food production. Reducing food insecurity continues to be a major public policy challenge in developing countries. Access to adequate food and nutrition and optimal health has been the main axes of development also is considered as grounds of the country''s future generation. Because in the recent decades the issue of nutritional has been dimension، with the increasing population and the need for further expansion of communities due to human food supply has different approaches for the experts and scientists solve this problem. Without doubt، among the priorities of each country''s development goals، achieving food security is great importance. Therefore، investigation of factors that impact on food security is of particular importance. Analysis Situation food security and factors affecting Thereon in the rural Society city Divandarreh. The statistical population of this research was consisted of all Married women in case study (N=15421). Using Cochran''s sampling formula، 213 women were selected as a sample (n=213). The main instrument in this study was questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by the panel of food security experts and faculty members of department management and agricultural development in university of Tehran and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach''s Alpha coefficient and composite reliability. Data were analyzed by SPSSWin18 and LISREL8. 54 software in two parts of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate improper food security and nutritional status among rural households. Correlation analysis results shown that Food security significantly correlated with the Household income، member of family، number of employed household، Location Distance to city، amount of agricultural and horticultural land and Education of mother، Results of the regression analysis showed that three variables consisting Household income، Education of mother and Combined production system were explaining 62. 1 percent of dependent variable (Food Security) variances changes. Almost 1 billion people worldwide are undernourished، many more suffer from micronutrient deficiencies، and the absolute numbers tend to increase further، especially in Sub-Saharan Africa Recent food price hikes have contributed to greater public awareness of hunger related problems، also resulting in new international commitments invest in developing country agriculture Obviously، agricultural development is crucial for reducing hunger and poverty in rural areas، but nonagricultural growth can be important as well Specifically for African countries، with strong population growth and increasingly limited agricultural resources، the potential role of the rural off-farm sector deserves particular consideration. Smallholder farm households usually maintain a portfolio of income sources، with off-farm income being a major component but often a clear policy strategy to promote the off-farm sector is lacking. In the available literature، considerable attention has been given to the poverty implications of off-farm income in developing countries Nutrition impacts might be positive، because off-farm income contributes to higher household income and therefore better access to food. But the impacts might also be negative، at least when controlling for total household income، as working off the farm could potentially reduce household food availability due to the competition for family labor between farm and off-farm work. The success of the green revolution technologies during the 1970s and 1980s is attributed to a technology model together with adoption of concurrent micro and macro-economics models. The micro or farm economics governed the use of inputs such as land، cultivars، labor، machinery، and chemicals، balanced against profits from crop yields. The macro-economics ensured better prices to farmers and access to inputs and markets. In addition to rising demand for food resulting from increasing population and economic growth، increased risks of food insecurity are foreseen from: an estimated rising global energy demand of 50% to 2030.

Almost half the world''s population lives in rural areas of developing countries، while the majority of them are small farmers and their livelihood is through agriculture. With regard to low efficiency of their activities due to some reasons i. e. lack of using new technical knowledge and machines، cooperation and team work is very useful to enhance their efficiency and to improve their economic status. Thus، today one of the most important strategies of different countries either developing or developed is to establish cooperatives in agricultural production system. Rural Production Cooperatives (RPCs) is one example of such cooperatives. Thus، the aim of this study was to analyze social factors influencing these cooperatives success in Boyer-Ahmad County، Southwestern of Iran. Also، the objectives of this study were: - To measure RPCs success in meeting predetermined goals; - Comparison of different RPCs based on their level of success; - To explain factors influencing these cooperatives success in the study area. A survey research method was used in this study. Research population consisted of the members of RPCs in Boyer-Ahmad County (N=1809) that about 317 ones of them were selected as research sample based on random sample size table and also were studied based on stratified random sampling technique. A pre-structured questionnaire was designed including 9 parts of different questions with Likert type spectrum responses. Furthermore، the Fuzzy Sets Theory was used to quantify qualitative data. Face validity technique was used using subject matter specialists'' opinions to ensure the validity of the questionnaire. Also، to a pilot study was conducted to test the reliability of the research tool. The calculated Cronbach''s Alpha (0. 54- 0. 91) showed the acceptable reliance of the supposed questionnaire. Moreover، to evaluate the validity of the research concepts، construct validity technique was used using factor analysis procedure. The results of KMO test (0. 513 – 0. 834) showed a proper construct validity of the questionnaire. One of the goals of this study was to measure Boyer-Ahmad County RPCs'' success in meeting predetermined goals. RPCs goals were characterized in four main groups: 1. Providing agricultural inputs and production factors; 2. Providing infra-structural services; 3. Extension- education services; 4. After production services. Research findings showed that the average success rate of RPCs in meeting predetermined goals was in moderate to low range (0. 389 in a range from 0. 012 to 0. 975). Furthermore، RPCs were more successful in providing inputs and production factors، although there is no significant difference between their success rate in meeting the above four main goals. Nevertheless، the supposed cooperatives are still far from the ideal situation. To identify determinants of the success of RPCs، Structural Equation Modeling was used using AMOSver. 20 Software. Eight variables (i. e. social capital، trust، communication، awareness towards principles of cooperation، members'' attitudes towards cooperation and team work، responsibility، performance and participation) entered the model، while all variables were significantly correlated with RPCs success. Overall، these dependent variables had the ability to explain about 83% of RPCs success variance. Direct and indirect effects of independent variables on dependent variable were also analyzed. The results showed that «awareness towards principles of cooperation» has the greatest effect on RPCs success (total effect=0. 439)، after that، other affect variables are «members'' attitudes towards cooperation and team work»، responsibility، participation، trust، performance and social capital respectively. Results of this study showed that the supposed cooperatives were not so successful in meeting predetermined goals. Also، among a lot of variables، only eight variables named awareness towards principles of cooperation، members'' attitudes towards cooperation and team work، communication، responsibility، participation، trust، performance and social capital had significant effects on RPCs success. This results showed that policy makers and planners should pay more attention to these variables، especially how to strengthen them.

Climate change is a phenomenon that rapidly occurring and the necessity to adapt it are crucial. Knowledge of climate change and the certainty of its occurrence are critical to the empowerment of vulnerable groups towards its outcome. Taking a scientific and proper approach to deal with the issue of global climate change (GCG) requires awareness towards this phenomenon which helps to make a proper and applicable policy. In other words، to address CC issues like environmental risks we need to understand the causes، consequences and potential solutions to CC. Because، environmental issues of the early twenty first century are characterized by a high level of scientific and technical complexity، good citizens needs to be well informed and more accurate on decisions about scientific issues. The present study utilized survey method and the main tool for data collection was questionnaire. Given that the main focus of study is assessing farmers’ knowledge، the unit of analysis in this study is farmers and level of analysis is micro. To this end، total population was 7861 of farmers’ Babolsar that using multi-stage cluster sampling، 140 were selected as samples. A total of 140 farmers were interviewed face to face، using questionnaires. The questionnaire consisted of 64 questions. The questions were either open ended or in multiple choice format. The rate of validity’ questions were higher than 60 percent. 3 hypotheses were examined. Data entry، editating and final processing was performed by applying software SPSS. The initial analysis showed that the dependent variable did have a normal distribution and we utilized parametric test (e. g. Pearson correlation coefficient، Regression model) for hypothesis testing accordingly. The findings show that knowledge of climate change and belief in the occurrence and level of supporting the policies is rather moderate، declined to high. Based on regression analysis، the average agricultural land and a belief in the occurrence of climate change، were the most important factors affecting policies supports. In contrast، the age and knowledge of climate change showed no effect on supporting climate change policies. The results of this study showed that knowledge does not necessarily lead to supporting climate change policies. Belief in climate change played a major role in creating incentives to tackle climate change. In fact، those villagers who believe climate change is happening and that human activity is the main source of climate change، they expressed greater willingness to undertake collective action to support adaptation and mitigation policies. Based on the above results، the following can be presented as research suggestions.

Fragmentation and distribution of agricultural lands is one of most important structural problems of the rural development process especially agricultural development in the Iran. Consequently، the problem has lead to numerous other serious problems such as inefficient use of modern technologies and new production methods، decrease in productivity، waste of soil and water resources، reduction of income level، insufficient of job opportunity and entrepreneurship activities and etc. which have been result in slowing the rate of rural development process. Meanwhile، land consolidation as a factor for successful development of agriculture has draws attention of planners and policymakers in the both developed and developing countries in the recent years. When applied as an instrument of rural development، land consolidation can improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of public and private investments in transportation and communication networks، utilities and irrigation systems. By facilitating renewal of communities، land consolidation can promote social stability. Based on sustainable development approach، community assets to improve the livelihood of the local community includes a broad range of capitals forms such as natural، physical، human، financial and social capitals. The research method of the current study in terms of the nature، rate and degree of control and method of data collection was quantitative، non-experimental and field research، respectively. The statistical population of the study consisted of 280 farmers of the villages of Ardelan، Dashtak and Azanbar located in Hesar e Valiasr County (Avaj township- Qazvin province). To determine the sample size، based on the Cochran formula، the 150 beneficiary was selected as a samples and questionnaires were distributed randomly. To assess the role of social capital indicators (cooperation and participation، social trust، local networks and group cohesion) in land consolidation questionnaire was used. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the variables، using the preliminary questionnaire was calculated by the use of Cronbach''s alpha coefficient of 0. 937. For quantitative analysis of collected data statistical tests such as one sample T test، Kruskal Wallis and Factor analysis were used. To assess the role of social capital in the farmers tendencies to make decisions related to scattered land plot consolidation in the study area، one sample t test has been used. The analysis show that، with the assumed test value of 3 (as a liker spectrum mean) there are significant differences between numerical means of social capital components in land consolidation from the beneficiaries'' viewpoints. On the other hand، to assess the difference between the means of ranks of social capital components in sample villages، nonparametric Kruskal Wallis test was used; and this showed that differences at the level of 95% are not significant. To assess the importance of social capital variables in Land Consolidation from respondents'' viewpoints in projects implemented in the study area، factor analysis was used. The result of reduction of 32 variables extracted from the questionnaire represents 6 major factors that explain more than 70% of the total variance. The results shows that social capital has had a positive effect on the success of farmers'' fragmented lands consolidation projects in the study area trough the formation of local group. So that among social capital components such as trust، cooperation، social cohesion and local networks، the indicators of mutual trust between group members and participation and cooperation among within the group as facilitating factors، have had the most effect on group formation and decision making about land consolidation، from the viewpoints of respondents in the study area. The results of reduction are organized in six main factors that explain totally 70. 1% of the variance. Thus، among extracted factors of mutual trust between farmers (with 19. 39 percent)، and collaboration and cooperation of group members (by 17. 2 percent)، and social cohesion and participatory management (with 11. 56 percent)، which are closely related to social structure of rural regions، include approximately 50 percent of the total variance from perspective of beneficiaries eligible to implemented Land Consolidation projects and this indicates the effect of social capital on farmers'' fragmented and distributed land consolidation.

Nowadays designing win-win strategies on the basis of multifunctional agriculture is one of the most important conditions for surviving of agricultural lands. These strategies should design in such a way that could conserve agricultural land use، improve farmers’ income while provide environmental and social services through farming systems. One of the basic solutions may be considered in designing win-win strategies is sustainable agritourism. Agritourism has long been considered a means of accomplishing economic and social development. It has been promoted as an effective source of income and employment. Global restructuring، including improved production methods and free trade، together with changing consumer trends، has led to profound changes in rural economies، particularly for small farmers. This new situation necessitates diversifying farming activities and provides a greater interest in new agricultural niche markets. Development of agritourism is recognized as an internal element in the revitalization of rural areas through tourism. Agritourism is an entrepreneurial approach which would lead to positive impacts by appropriate management. Because of either the mood of pessimism about the excessive، irregular، and continuous growth of urban areas or the desire to escape from the stresses of everyday life or the noble allure of green space، suburban spaces، or pristine and untouched areas، individuals communicate with nature as a part of their ordinary recreational cycle. According to the estimations، 77. 5 percent of Iranian population would reside urban until 2032. This change could present suitable opportunity for agritourism development and creation of supplementary income for farmers and consequently for reduction of agricultural land use change. But lack of dynamic and learning agricultural management has increased vulnerability of Iranian farmers and has declined their investment ability in order to improve land productivity. Despite groundwork and many possibilities for agritourism development in Iran، no study has been done to estimate potential demand for agritourism services and effective factors on it.

This study employed contingent valuation and double-bounded dichotomous choice method to estimate willingness to pay for agritourism services in Qazvin، Iran. Population of the study included Qazvin citizens over 18 years of age who had visited agricultural and rural areas at least on time in the last year. The sample size estimated 153 persons and a total of 180 questionnaires were completed via face to face interviews. One of the most widely used techniques for ecological valuation has been the contingent valuation method (CVM). It involves asking people directly what value they would place on an amenity if a market existed for it. Also a Logit Model was estimated using Maximum Likelihood Approach in order to investigate the effective factors on individual willingness to pay (WTP).

Information about respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics included their age، gender، residential area، marital status، education level، occupation، distance to agricultural and rural destination، family size، and income. The results indicated that the respondents’ ages ranged from 18 to 69 year old with an average age of 35. 67.

showed that average of respondents’ family size was 4 person and they travel to agricultural and rural areas at an average of 6. 5 times annually. Number of visits from these destinations ranged from 1 to 30 times. The respondents preferred 35. 7 kilometer as maximum distance to agritourism destinations. The results of this study provide some evidence that diversifying farms into tourism activities and consequently developing a successful entrance fee program can provide additional revenue to alleviate the financial shortage faced by small farmers. The mean of WTP projected 53400 rails per each visit and for using some agritourism services. As this estimation was statistically significant and as about 80 percent of citizens accept one of the suggested amounts، it would be concluded that there is appropriate potential market for development of agritourism enterprises. Results showed that variables of “annual number of travel to rural-agricultural environments”، “family size” and dummy variables of “having car” and “place of born” had a significant effect on the anticipated willingness to pay of citizens.

The coefficient for annual number of travel to rural-agricultural environments was negative. It implies that the more travel to these areas annually، the less the number of respondents who are willing to pay the suggested amount. So planners of agritourism development should focus on citizens with lower times of visit from rural-agricultural environments. Negative coefficient of family size indicated that increase of family members، decreases willingness to pay for agritourism among respondents. Thus new and young families should be first priority of marketing plans. Totally based on the findings، a fee-paying program could be developed that is acceptable to visitors and helps to ensure high-quality recreational opportunities in farms. It seems reasonable for policy makers to at least consider an entrance fee as one of the funding alternatives for agritourism development.

Tourism development is important for economic growth in rural areas because it constitutes take into account a driving force for economic development. So in rural areas that have potential to attract tourists can be helped to economic growth through appropriate investment in tourism. Tourism development in rural areas can have an important role in the diversification of the rural economy and can be underlie the sustainable rural development. Thus، rural tourism can the empowerment of local people and human resource development، economic diversification and growth، creating jobs، solving unemployment، raise living standards through the provision of social services and bridging the gap between urban and rural areas in different fields and should have a major role reduce rural migration to large cities. Banzarde rural as valuable tourism resources such as natural، historical and pilgrimage can play important role in the economy. The aim of present study has been investigate the role of tourism activities on the economy of the Banzarde rural. This theoretical – practical research has been carried out with a descriptive-analytical method. In order to evaluate the role of tourism in the economy Banzarde views of residents in the study area has been used different variables such as income، employment، land prices and the status of the investment. The information needed to conduct this research was collected by the application of survey and library method. The survey was used questionnaire. The statistical population of research included residential of Banzarde and these cases were randomly chosen among 13 rural. Random stratified sampling method has been used in this study. Therefore، the sample size that calculated by using ''Cochran'' formula is 370 persons. Then، the number of questionnaires in each of the 13 rural under the study was distributed in proportion to population size. In order to investigate the validity were used tourism experts. The reliability of the pre-test was approved (completed preliminary questionnaire to 30 randomly between residents and the alpha value of 0. 93). The data and information were analyzed by using SPSS and EXCEL. In this research in order to obtain and assess residents'' attitudes toward the chosen criteria were used statistical tests such as mean responses، One-sample T-test and coefficient Pearson. Discussion and The findings showed that views of residents in the study area، tourism activities has more role in the components of income and employment and also economic status in Banzarde rural. For example variables such as the increase of average income of residents، use of luxury goods and reduce poverty feel in the region with tourists، above average and variable increase in purchasing power with the arrival of tourists lower than average. Also have evaluated status indicators of employment components associated with higher than average. Survey responses indicate that the average variable increases in land prices and changes in land use is higher than average. Also state variables related to the investment in the study area is suitable. So that the average obtained for the index has been above average.

In the past decades، development policies in the country have caused negative effects on regions. These policies have caused the mass evacuation of rural settlement and the imbalance hierarchy of settlements. The reflect of these policies are visible in the rapid and uneven growth of large cities and eliminate loops linking between cities and rural settlements from the highest levels، to lower ones. Survey the development on the rural community in past shows that the rural sectors faced with the basic difficulty in the socio-economic and ecological aspects in national and local levels، so that the continuity of this situation confronts them with problems such as intensifying of regional in equalities، massive evacuation of human and financial resources in villages، declining in per capital food production and emerging food crisis، accumulation of population in urban communities، extension of marginalization، unemployment and social damage. Present study with the purposes of 1) prevent the rising trend of rural migration and make order of settlement pattern in activity and population، 2) creation and establishment hierarchy in the settlement of Damavand and 3) offer variety activities in rural settlements، consider these questions: 1- What factors are effective in the optimal distribution of population and activities in an area? 2- What is the order of spatial distribution settlements and their functions in the Damavand district and which of Damavand settlements have the ability and capability more for local and regional development?

This research is investigating on policies that have been proven throughout the world such as regional network to provide better facilities and services in rural settlement of Damavand. These policies focus on using the present facilities and join them to new strategies of regional and national development. The analysis process of rural settlements and the importance of the proposed indicators are done by using the Topsis technique and the Principal Component Analysis. For this purpose، collecting information have done by attention to the national documents، and using scientific articles، books، reports and available information in the organs and government agencies. Other information is also provided by the processing of maps، photographs and slides. The statistical society of this study includes 83 permanent rural settlements of Damavand with more than3 families and 39 indicators according to the Dimensions of the regional networks approach.

The result of the study shows that Sarbandan، Vadan، Jaban، Marai، Sadat Mahaleh، Arou، Mosha، Mehrabad، Seyd Abad، Garmabsard، Islam Abad and Ahran villages with a score higher than 0. 4 have been in grades 1 to 13 and Shater M. Sofla، Jafar Abad، Mendank، Ajan، Jozdar، Homand Kouhan، Shah Belaghi، Hossein Abad، Rostam Abad، Ozoun Dare، Saleh Abad، Gandak، Homnad Kylan and Yalaqan Dareh villages with scoreless than 0. 15 are located in the lower echelons of the rankings. According to the result of the ranking، some parts of the region that used natural، economic، social and physical capabilities have more concentrated population and boomed economic activities، which has been a high level of development of settlements. However، the boom may be made by only one of the basis strengths. For example in some parts، some rural such as Sarbandan and Jaban in Abarshive district، Vadan in Jamabroud and Sadat Mahale in Abali district are located adjacent to the communication paths. These villages، with use this features and create service centers، have reached to a higher level of development.

Proper utilization of the natural، social، economic and physical factors has caused boom economic activity، attract population and prevent irregular migration. These conditions will make hierarchical order of rural settlements based on their power and capabilities. Lack of proper communication between rural and urban settlements in Damavand district have caused poor performance and low-density of rural settlements. If good communication of manufacturing and service facilities exist between adjacent settlements، it will help to link rural and urban settlements together to get the better performance. In addition to، the complementary relationship between activities of agriculture، industry and services provide the grounds of further development. Finally، according to descriptions provided in settlements classified; in order to access available services and facilities of rural settlements in the district and promote the level of that، 4 System villages are suggested in this essay.