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

Purpose-This study follows three major purposes including recognizing the input variables in the development of tea tourism in rural areas of Gilan (Guilan) Province, Iran, and identifying the less strategic and dependent variables for promoting tea tourism in the case study of rural areas of Gilan Province.Design/methodology/approach- Structural analysis in a foresight study was used in this paper. Firstly, the researchers recognized the key variables for promoting tea tourism in destinations with the help of the systematic literature review method and the extraction variables were categorized in two codes as tourism facilities and services with tea theme, and policy-making for promoting tea tourism.Finding- The results of structural analysis through Micmac software identified the following variables as influence variables for tea tourism facilities and services: being familiar with tea processing, establishing tea tasting centres, holding tea ceremonies and tea cultural events, and being familiar with tea cuisine. Furthermore, visiting tea gardens and sightseeing, presenting tea culture performances, developing tea museums, creating an innovative tea package, establishing a tea shop/tea auction centre, participating in picking tea leaves, and establishing tea restaurants, hotels and accommodations are known as dependent variables. Moreover, according to the direct influence graph adding tea tourism to tour packages and visiting tea factories were recognized as less strategic variables for development of tea tourism facilities and services. In addition, organizing top to bottom level training and a comprehensive policy framework for tea tourism have the most impact on the system and were identified as input variables for policy-making for promoting tea tourism.Practical implications- Analysing data through Micmac software illustrated that local participation, preserving the environment ecosystem, developing network activities and training tour guides for tea tourism are dependent variables for policy-making for promoting tea tourism. Lastly, accessibility and marketing are excluded as independent variables for policy-making for promoting tea tourism.

Purpose- After the beginning of a new round of sanctions against Iran in 2010-2011, many disorders were introduced in the Iranian economy including increased inflation and reduced purchasing power. It has significantly affected on the welfare of families and, hence. The study objective is to compare the effects of inflation on the costs of the social welfare and income among rural and urban families.Design/methodology/approach - The study adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology and urban and rural families in 31 provinces of Iran constitute its units of analysis. The data was comprised of family expenditure on food and non-food items in urban and rural areas during the period of 2011-2017 (at the height of sanctions) together with inflation. The panel data was analyzed using STATA 15 software package.Finding: The findings showed that inflation has increased income and, as a result, has increased costs and that a one percent increase in inflation has increased non-food costs as much as 0.43 and 0.35 and food costs as much as 0.18 and 0.22 for rural families. Similarly, by a one percent increase in inflation in urban areas of Iran, families’ non-food costs have increased by 0.20 and 0.16 and their food costs have increased by 0.11 and 0.24.Overall, inflation has led to a lower increase in the expenditure of rural families, so that a one percent increase in inflation has increased the costs for urban families as much as 0.32 and for rural families as much as 0.15. Therefore, the inflation caused by sanctions has increased the gap between urban and rural area and, as a result, increased macroeconomic instability. Considering the mutual effect of income distribution, unemployment, inflation and cost on each other, the policy of adjustment of income distribution and tax on income and wealth should be implemented in an exponential manner to reduce inequality. Also, in the face of inequality, in the early stages of development, politicians can control or reduce the upward trend in poverty and inequality by using the tools of transfer payments, social security insurances, unemployment insurances, etc.Originality/value: The results of this research can help organizations in charge of dealing with the effects of inflation in urban and rural areas to have a deeper insight into the existing conditions so that they can reduce the negative effects of inflation on life by using the solutions provided.

Purpose- Livelihood build-up is one of the most important pathways to improving the economic activities of rural areas. Despite an increasing call for diversification, through entrepreneurship, most rural households are challenged by limited means of livelihood. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to identify livelihood options for rural households through micro-entrepreneurship and analyze determinants and constraints to livelihood build-up in rural areas of Ogun State in the Southwest region of Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach-A two-stage sampling technique was used to select 900 rural households for the study. The required primary data for the study was collected through a structured questionnaire. The data on livelihood activities of rural households, micro-enterprises, and rural household characteristics were collected. Simpson index, multiple regression, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.Findings-The results show that aside from agriculture and agribusiness-related activities (0.501), micro and retail business enterprises (0.619) are the dominant livelihood activities in the rural areas. Livelihood build-up in rural areas is significantly determined by factors including the size of the rural households (β = 0.458, t = 3.092, p < 0.05), and access to credit (β = 0.416, t = 2.895, P < 0.05). Also, the results show that the livelihood build-up of most rural households is constrained by lack of access to credit, risk-averse attitudes of most rural households, low level of awareness, poor rural infrastructure, and rural transportation problems.Originality/value- The study focuses on the pathway to building a better livelihood for the rural populace through entrepreneurship. The findings of this study provide insight into part of the policy strategy required to solve livelihood challenges in most rural communities.

Purpose- Nowadays, the importance of rural business development and its key role in advancement of countries is undeniable. Development of rural business is considered as the main strategies for economic, socio-cultural development of deprived areas and it is used as a solution to poverty alleviation, poverty reduction, social and economic justice. Thus, the present study is aimed to provide a model for rural business development in Ilam province.Design/Methodology/Approach- To this end, a mixed-method approach (both quantitative and qualitative) was applied. The population of this research in the qualitative part includes experts and in quantitative section are the owners of rural businesses in Ilam province. To select the sample in the qualitative part of the research, snowball method was carried out and 12 people were selected. Also, in quantitative phase 120 owners of rural businesses in Ilam province were selected. Data collection tool in qualitative section was semi-structured interviews and in quantitative part was standardized questionnaire. In order to analyze data in the qualitative section thematic analysis method and in quantitative section structural equation modeling (SEM) was used.Findings- The results showed that 57 indicators in the form of 15 sub-themes and 6 main themes including: marketing capability, competitive intelligence, government policy, entrepreneurial empowerment, strategic communication and social acceptance were identified as factors affecting the development of rural businesses in Ilam province.Originality/value- In present research, marketing capability, competitive intelligence, government policy, entrepreneurial empowerment, strategic communication and social acceptance have been identified as the factors affecting the development of rural businesses. The results of this research can help the authorities to have a deeper insight into the factors affecting the development of rural businesses as well as create strategic planning in order to successfully perform the development of rural businesses.

Purpose- Nowadays, with the disappearance of traditionalism in rural housing design, constructions that deviate from the traditional and indigenous housing patterns are noticeable, and as a result, native values and traditions in rural housing have been disregarded. On the other hand, rural housing is the most humanistic subject of architecture and provides for the diverse needs of local residents. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of examining the effective factors in preserving the values of endemic housing and regional texture in Sistan towards revitalizing rural settlements.Design/ Methodology/ Approach- The qualitative-quantitative research method was used in the present study. The statistical population consisted of two parts: the first part included experts and graduates in architecture who were selected as a sample size of 20 people based on purposive sampling. The second part consisted of the villagers of Qaleh now, Deh Arbab, and Deh now Piran. Background field method, Delphi method, FARAS + FKOPRAS models were used to analyze data in both qualitative and quantitative sections.Finding- the results of background theory showed that from the perspective of experts, some factors such as preserving rural landscape, principles of protecting native housing values towards development with a focus on indigenous culture, interaction in preservation and revitalization of regional fabric and rural indigenous housing as well as cultural tourism in villages were identified as effective factors in preserving endemic rural housing values. Also, Delphi results showed that Kendall’s coefficient for concepts and meaningful units obtained from expert interviews did not differ significantly. In this regard, fuzzy model results showed that developing an ideal pattern for indigenous housing in Sistan with a weight of 70/72; principles of protecting native housing values towards development with a focus on indigenous culture with a weight of 66/72; integrated and cohesive management with a weight of 59/72, received the highest and lowest importance in preserving indigenous rural housing values in Sistan respectively.

Purpose: Achieving a sustainable livelihood and improving the quality of life is one of the basic goals of rural development programs. The research aims to identify the key components of job creation in rural communities with emphasis on handicrafts and workshops in the rural areas of Sanandaj.Dsidn/methodology/approach: Continuous droughts and economic sanctions and lack of rational planning have doubled the spread of poverty and deprivation in the rural areas of Kurdistan province. Descriptive-analytical and semi-structured field research. The survey method is to use the Delphi technique to identify and determine the type of activities.Finding: The results showed three priorities for creating employment in the rural areas of Sanandaj. The first priority with 9 types of job-creating activities in the field of local handicrafts such as backgammon, greenhouse production, local bread production, cultivation of medicinal plants, dry fruits, making musical instruments, clothing production, etc. with more than 83% of opinions in favor of the second priority With 10 types of employment-generating activities in the field of packaging garden products, workshops for the production of spirits, dried fruits, packaging agricultural products. Third priority with 5 types of job creation activities in the field of block making workshop, saffron production, tomato paste production with 55 to 69 percent agreement. In order to achieve the development of job creation in the villages, it is suggested to create educational platforms in the field of skill enhancement, create low-interest and long-term facilities, and provide spiritual support of government institutions.