Journal of Research and Rural Planning -پژوهش و برنامه ریزی روستایی

Purpose- Since the rural unemployment rate has increased and rural dwellers suffer from the shortage of the basic requirements of life due to the lack of livelihood sustainability, it is important to address the significant role of Sustainable Livelihood in rural areas, particularly, regarding female household heads or women with unfit providers. Therefore, the present study has aimed to examine the factors that determine the SL of the afore-said women who have the membership of rural microcredit funds in Ghaemshahr County.  Design/Methodology/approach- The data have been collected through a census with a sample of the female household heads and the women with unfit providers who are the clients of 30 microcredit funds in rural areas of Ghaemshahr County, Mazandaran Provice. (n=170). The data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire, which was divided into two main sections of SL evaluation and the significant factors affecting the SL developed into 11 categories. The validity of the research tool was determined by the expert panels while the Cronbach’s alpha test determined the level of reliability. In order to analyze the data,the researchers employed SPSS25 and Smart PLS3 to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics.   Findings- The results of the current study indicate that the personality, economic, support/service and cultural factors, respectively, with the path coefficients of 0.361 and 0.344, 0.291 and 0.266 had positive impacts on the SL of the aforesaid women. However, the first two factors had the confidence interval of 99% while support/service and cultural factors earned 95% confidence interval. Moreover, the results of the structural equation indicated that the factor of support/service had more impact on these women’s level of SL than other factors.      Research limitations- One of the main limitations was the difficulty in identifying and accessing research population and the unbalanced distribution of microcredit funds in Ghaemshahr County.   Practical Implications- There are several strategies that affect the ever-growing SL of female household heads, including government-supported facilities and low-yield financial services with the aim of enhancing fast-growing job opportunities, encouraging creative ideas and activities and entrepreneurships in rural areas, certain specialties, professional marketing for rural products and guaranteeing their dealership.     Originality/value- The results of the present study can help the associated organizations and developers to focus on the accessibility and achievements of the predetermined objectives of the funds and financial services that address women’s activities -women financial services, especially,   the ones that creates fast-growing job opportunities. Given the current financial problems, the present study has aimed to improve women’s SL.  

Purpose- Due to its special geographical location in the arid and semi-arid climate belt of the world, Iran suffers from water scarcity and limited usable water resources, notably considering the population growth and increasing demand for water and food. High water consumption in agriculture as one of the main water use sectors is estimated as 90% of total water, thereby necessitating consideration of water conservation methods. However, there are a number of barriers to use the current water conservation practices. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the barriers to equipping agricultural lands with the new irrigation technologies in Shahrabaad rural district, Bardaskan city. Design/methodology/approach- This is an applied study in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method, carried out using the random sampling method. The sample size was 338 households in the research area which was determined using Cochran's formula. Data were collected based on field and library studies. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by university professors and experts. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.78 using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Moreover, the TOPSIS fuzzy model was used to rank the villages in terms of the effect of barriers to using the new irrigation technologies, and SPSS software was used for analyzing the research questions. Findings: Results showed that the economic dimension was the most important barriers to using the new irrigation technologies. In addition, low-socioeconomic status of the farmers and small loans are the most prominent barriers to equipping agricultural lands with the new irrigation technologies in the research rural district. Research limitations/implications - unavailability of statistical information when referring to the agricultural jihad and the governor’s office, and completing the questionnaire, depending on the subject at the village level, is one of the main challenges of the present study. Practical implications - Given the specific research findings, it is necessary for agriculture and water policy-makers take serious measures concerning the incentive (low-interest and long-term loans, micro-land integration and the like) and punitive (imposing restrictions on traditional land users and stipulating other supports to change the irrigation method) instruments, because otherwise water restriction and the consequences of water scarcity will be challenging in  many areas and even may lead to a serious crisis. Originality / value: This study is prima facie significant in terms of statement of the reasons for the barriers to equipping agricultural lands with the new irrigation technologies from the users' perspective and then, in terms of a more detailed analysis of the research findings to change the implementation of traditional irrigation methods.

Purpose: The development of eco-resorts is important for accommodation of domestic and foreign tourists, so their quality of indicators should be improved, regardless of its economic approach.  The purpose of this study is to spatially analyze the status of rural eco-resorts in Sari, so the present study seeks to answer these key questions: 1- What is the current status of rural eco-resorts indicators? 2- What is the level of the studied villages in terms of eco-resorts indicators? Methodology: The current study is descriptive-analytical and applied in terms of approach and aim, respectively.  Documentary and field study methods were used to obtain the required data.  The statistical population of this study consists of two groups, the first group, included experts in tourism who were selected with census method, and consequently, 15 people in total. The second group included tourists who have stayed in these eco-resorts. According to the Cochran's formula, with an error value of 0.07, 181 questionnaires were completed randomly. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and variance), inferential (one-sample t-test) and VIKOR method were used. Findings/results: Findings of the study showed that based on the significance level of the one-sample test, there is a significant relationship and difference between 7 indicators of the research. Late Letkan & Late Leteka, Tapurestan and Miansheh ranked first to third, and eco-resorts in Mah Joon (Q = 0.785), Senam and Saray Khan (Q = 0.828) had the lowest ranks. Therefore, it can be said that the resorts, which are at an acceptable level in terms of the studied indicators, have appropriate facilities and services in eco-resorts.

Purpose- In the hierarchical planning of central places, systematic and calculated settlement is based on the desired spatial system, and small cities play a major role in striking balance and equilibrium in the residential system. The role and function of this type of rural centers lay the theoretical basis for strategies of developing a balanced settlement model. The proponents of small towns point to importance of these settlements as service centers in rural development, stressing the construction of a cohesive settlement hierarchy and the effects of top-down distribution. According to their view, small towns are at the forefront of rural and regional development in terms of production and institutional structure, preventing the over-concentration of population and activities in large cities. It is an issue that has deprived these cities of proper economic returns and investment. Design/methodology/approach - In this study, the effect of Molkabad City on the spatial organization of rural settlements is investigated, and research hypotheses are tested using t-test, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and WASP. Finding- Of the sample villages in various geographical areas located at varying distances, Derakht-e Sepidar Village has the highest Qi in WASPAS model and is ranked first, thus having the highest spatial development among the sample villages. It is true because this village is located in a plain area adjacent to a dirt road that leads to Molkabad City. In the same region, Razan Village has the lowest Qi in WASPAS model and is ranked last, mainly because this village is located on a plain, but far from communication routes. Further, this village is within the jurisdiction of Binalood Town rather than Molkabad or even the center of its county, Imam Taghi Village. In general, according to the results obtained from the WASPAS model, it can be mentioned that there is a slight difference between the first and the last village and the rate of spatial development in the studied villages is almost identical. That is, it is not pertained to the remoteness and proximity to Molkabad City.

Purpose- The project of valuable rural texture was proposed with the aim of rehabilitating the tourist villages with valuable physical features. Since the project aimed at developing tourism in tourist villages and preserving the local and cultural features of these areas, conducting a research to study the dimensions and effects of rehabilitation of valuable rural texture on rural tourism was of great importance. Therefore, the present study aimed to study the rehabilitation of valuable rural texture and its effect on tourism in the village of Hajij, Kermanshah, Iran. Design/methodology/approach- The two groups of population involved in rehabilitation of the rural residential texture were the local people and the tourists. The tools used in this study to collect data were applied, quantitative, and survey methods. The statistical population consisted of 300 tourists and 95 local people. Findings- The results showed that the rehabilitation of rural valuable texture had positive effects on development of rural tourism. The four variables of attraction of tourists, providing local services to tourists, affecting the performance of governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, and the advertising role of rehabilitation of dilapidated texture have been influenced by valuable textures. Local people and tourists were satisfied with the rehabilitation project and reported its great effect on the village. Practical implications- This study showed that the rehabilitation project of rural valuable texture caused harmony and agreement between the village's new texture and body and its traditional and local texture. Furthermore, rehabilitation of valuable texture gravitated the tourists' attention to the village and increased local employment. Nonetheless, there were challenges to the rehabilitation project of valuable rural texture. One of the most important challenge was the adverse effect of rural tourism on the village's environment, causing pollution and destruction of natural environment.

Purpose- The present study focuses on introducing ghetto tourism; the main objective of this study is to introduce some villages in Isfahan Province as ghetto tourism destinations with emphasis on religious minorities. Since the emergence of niche tourism needs the study of its place, the present study is designed to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Isfahan Province for the prosperity of ghetto tourism. Design/methodology/approach- To this end, SWOT and QSPM methods were used in this study. It is noteworthy that the data were collected through snowball sampling technique. The results of this study illustrate that Isfahan Province is strategically located in the aggressive area due to the internal and external factors affecting ghetto tourism, and strategies such as market development, concentric diversification, market penetration and product development can be used to boost rural tourism in Isfahan Province. Finding- According to QSPM results, it can be concluded that holding more conferences regarding the cultural bridge of Iran-Armenia-Georgia among the market development strategies, organizing the festival of culture of minorities among the concentric diversificationstrategies, and holding a tour of visiting the ghetto villages of Isfahan among the market penetration strategies have the highest priority for ghetto tourism development in Isfahan. And the proposed strategies do not differ much in terms of priority and attractiveness for product development.

Purpose- The growing attention to rural development issues has created a strong trend in related scientific communities, as over the last few years one can see the traces of this thinking in many relevant scientific trends. One of the most important relevant subjects was job creation using the resources available in rural areas in line with their industrialization and the emergence of agro-processing industries. Spatial distribution of rural industries, spatial justice and their fair distribution based on the distribution of rural settlements have been among the most important concerns in this field. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the distribution of agro-processing industries with a spatial approach in rural areas of Gilan Province.  Design/methodology/approach- This research is an applied one conducted in a descriptive-analytical method. The collected data were analyzed using the average nearest neighbor, multi-distance spatial cluster analysis, mean center and standard deviational ellipse. Results showed that industries in rural areas of Gilan Province have been located in clusters. Finding- That is, their sites were selected with an eye to favorable conditions such as proximity to cities, population centers and markets, access to infrastructure, proximity to political and decision-making centers, access to major roads, access to more raw materials and cheaper agro-processing industries. Such industries are often located in the counties of Rasht, Rudsar, Astar, Talesh, Lahijan, Langrud and Sowmehsara. Therefore, the officials in charge should make plans to establish agro-processing industries in a more scattered and diverse manner in Gilan Province.