درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- The agricultural insurance fund plays a crucial role in rural areas and agricultural sector. Evaluating the performance of this fund can better identify its effectiveness and challenges. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the agricultural insurance fund in the development of rural areas in Shiraz County.Design/methodology/approach- This descriptive-analytical research is based on data collection through a survey. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient greater than 0.70. The statistical population consisted of rural residents totaling 55323 individuals. Based on Cochran’s formula, the sample size was determined to be 382 individuals.Findings- The test results, at a significance level less than 0.05, indicated that the Agricultural Insurance Fund had poor efficiency in rural development from the perspective of rural residents. The average test result of 2.404 also confirms this finding. Despite its poor performance, the fund’s highest effectiveness and efficiency were related to promoting social justice with an average score of 2.609. Furthermore, analysis of variance showed no significant difference between rural areas regarding the performance status of the Agricultural Insurance fund at a level greater than 0.05 but equal to 0.774. It is also predicted that the Agricultural Insurance Fund may have an impact on the situation of rural areas. According to the regression results, support for the expansion of greenhouse cultivation with a beta value of 0.349 has been the most important factor in the effectiveness of the fund.Research limitations/implications- challenges related to data collection access and significant costs complicated this research endeavor. To mitigate these negative impacts, villages with larger populations were prioritized for inclusion.Practical implications- Sustainable rural development in agriculture hinges on various forms of managerial support from entities like the Agricultural Insurance Fund. Dynamism in this area can expedite development.Originality/value- Despite being relatively overlooked, evaluating the performance of Agricultural Insurance Funds can highlight positive aspects for managers and specialists due to their importance. The villages within the research scope also provide value and authenticity to this study.

Purpose- Undoubtedly, the correct performance of any activity and the successful performance of any role in the field of handicrafts depends on the interest and motivation of the workers to get familiar with its skills and methods and to use the special methods of that technique in the production of products. Baghlan province which is located in the northeast of Afghanistan, about 50% of the population of this province is women, and recently, most of the rural women of this province have turned to the handicraft industry of Balochi to improve their income. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the production status of the handicraft industry of Balochi women and the role of motivating factors of job performance and job satisfaction on the development of the handicraft industry of Balochi.Design/methodology/approach- The main research tool was a questionnaire the validity of which was confirmed by the lecturers of the agricultural extension and economics and the department of sociology of Baghlan university, and Cronbach's alpha confirmed its reliability. The statistical population was all the rural women working in the handicraft industry of Baghlan province, which was selected by purposive sampling (192) samples.Finding- Results showed that all three independent variables, motivational factors, job performance and job satisfaction have a positive and significant effect on the development of the handicraft industry of Balochi women, and explained 59% of the changes in the dependent variable. So, with confidence, it can be said that increasing motivation, job performance and job satisfaction lead to the development of the needlework industry among rural women.Originality/value– The results of this study, especially concerning due to the lack of sufficient and appropriate empirical literature in Afghanistan, can play a major role in providing correct insight to the rural development officials, job creation and poverty reduction in Afghanistan.

Purpose- Rural tourism is considered a potential solution for rural communities to overcome economic challenges; in this context, smart tourism can be viewed as a logical advancement from traditional tourism, providing a balanced approach to revitalizing rural settlements and creating new economic opportunities for farmers and local communities. Accordingly, given that smart tourism can play a significant role in the sustainable development of businesses and the overall economy of villages, the aim of this research is to analyse the impact of smart tourism on the sustainable development of rural businesses in the Tafresh County.Design/methodology/approach- Therefore, this study is applied and employs a descriptive-analytical method, and from a paradigm perspective, it is classified as quantitative research. The required information was collected through both documentary-library and field methods. The statistical population of the study includes 28 villages in Tafresh County. In the field method, a researcher-made questionnaire was used. For data analysis, exploratory factor analysis, one-sample T-test, and the MARCOS multi-criteria decision-making model were utilized.Findings - The results from the exploratory factor analysis indicated that among the five identified factors, social and infrastructural factors in smart tourism have the greatest impact on the sustainable development of rural businesses. The results from the MARCOS decision-making model also showed that the villages of Kookan, Khank, and Naqousan are in a more favorable position regarding the indicators of smart tourism in the sustainable development of rural businesses.