SPACE ECONOMY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Analyzing the causes of low participation of rural women by using mixed method Case: rural district of Sina in Varzeghan County

Aghil Khaleghi

Introduction

The idea of "ignoring economic labor" of rural women and their role in providing households' financial and non-financial resources is deeply ingrained in cultural fabric of our society that is hardly possible to change the notion of "men being sole breadwinners". The rate of women participation in the employment and labor market is much less than men. This is due to the presence of social, legal, and economic barriers and cultural and traditional restrictions. In Iran, the main activities of rural women can be summarized in three sectors; agriculture, rural industries and rural services. Currently, according to the information contained in the (2011-2012) 1390 Statistical Yearbook, 14987out of 37 958 people, as the population of 10 years and more in the County of Varzeghan, constitute the employed active population. It makes a portion of 13098 for rural areas. The share of female population employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing in the province has reported to be 26116 people within which the overall share of the total population of Varzeghan has been 8280.

Although rural women are not counted in agriculture sector, many women of the County are participating in this sector. While rural women try alongside men in agriculture, because of certain traditional beliefs and public imagination there are always barriers for rural women's participation in the labor market. Considering the importance of this issue, this article aims at answering the questions that "what is the main obstacle facing the employment of rural women in Varzeghan County?" and "What is the impact of other effective barriers on the employment?"

Methodology
We have used mixed method approaches in the article. Since the sequence of qualitative and quantitative research methods is known as one of the features of mixed research, we have used first the qualitative and then the quantitative ones. In the first stage, in order to identify different causal conditions, as factors affecting the low participation of rural women in the workforce, a qualitative method was used in which we have interviewed with literate women. Then, to achieve the desired result in the second stage, qualitative research findings were used in developing the questionnaire, whereas obtained quantitative data were used to provide a structural model. The questionnaires were completed by literate girls and women livelihood in rural district of Sina. Using Cochran formula, sample size was calculated to be 300 people, with the confidence interval of 0.95. A simple random sampling method was used and the questionnaires were formulated by a number of 15 closing questions that their options were assessed based on rating Likert scale. Its validity was estimated based on its formal validity and its reliability was calculated 0.919 by Cronbach's alpha which indicates that the questionnaires are highly reliable. Table 3 shows the output of SPSS software.
Discussion and conclusion
Considering the development of different societies and urban areas along with the development of rural societies, rural girls and women are no longer interested in participating in agricultural sector. Instead, they are getting to the employment of nonagricultural manufacturing jobs as well as government and service ones. Casual barriers affecting the employment of rural women in the area under study can be classified in four groups of individual, family, socio-cultural, and management-structural barriers. These are multiple-effect barriers which are related to each other. Being remote as a variable for villages and individual and family factors are of the highest importance. Given the casual barriers of the phenomenon, lifestyle changes are evident in the rural community.
The main reason of most villagers' migration is to find appropriate non-agricultural jobs. Among them, there are some migrant girls that not only have they achieve their goals of employment in urban communities but also there is not enough attraction in their ancestral home of insufficient facilities to make them return. Variables such as education, marital status and income level are commonly considered as intervening obstacles facing the employment of rural women. It is certain that changes in social customs, values and traditions as well as lifestyle changes can make rural women have less or no tendency to live in rural areas and move to cities. Changes in lifestyle, family system, and social customs and values are all strategies taken by rural community to minimize the effect of barriers affecting the employment of girls and women. Of course, these strategies have their special consequences. They may cause late marriage or the rise of average marriage age which are effective in the creation of social and moral corruption in the society.
Rural to urban migration can lead to economic poverty which is by itself one of the most important factors causing corruption in the society. Changes in social customs and values can also lead to reluctance to agricultural activities which is due to familiarity with urban life. A combination of factors like these cause inappropriate behaviors b rural girls and women.

Influence of rural socio-cultural changes on rural housing Case: Neka County

Ali Akbar Anabestani

Introduction

In the past half century, major changes have occurred in the appearance of villages of the country. Most of these changes were related to residential architecture. New cultural plan aims at providing a new look at cultural issues in rural communities, fighting against social deprivation, fighting against nihilism in geographical perspectives, providing the opportunity to develop local identity, supporting native culture, making rural empowerment through the participation of rural people, democratic supporting of cultural policies and better understanding of people. In some cases, cultural transformation, has led to differences in the formation of architectural elements and components. Hence, such changes will be usually followed by other changes in construction manner and its pattern. This effect is such that, in many cases, urban architecture patterns, especially patterns of marginalization in towns with no architectural value, are replaced instead of rural traditional buildings which seems to have lost their former functions.
In recent decades, the process of changes in the face of villages in Mazandaran have accelerated so that it has drastically changed the overall appearance of villages and rural housing. In this article, we have tried to reflect the relationship between social environment and rural architecture. We have also examined the impact of cultural and social changes on the body of the village, especially on rural housing in the study area, the County of Neka. In addition, we have determined spatial distribution of this communication in the villages under study.

Methodology

The research method of this study is descriptive-correlational. The present study was conducted using survey method and questionnaires. Neka County, with a population of 58601 people, consists of 105 inhabited villages (Statistical Center of Iran, 1390). Statistical Society of the research includes 91 village with the total population of 57769 people. This number includes all villages of more than 20 households in the County of Neka. Cochran sampling method, with 95% confidence level and error probability of 5/5% based on the proportion of the population of each village, was used for calculating sample size among rural households. Finally, 10 villages, consisting of 1653 households, have been investigated. To assess the effects of socio-cultural changes on the pattern of housing in the village a number of 256 of the villagers (householders) were investigated by the use of simple random sampling method.

Discussion and conclusion
Housing is a cultural concept. To examine rural housing, besides studies done on physical and structural space, new studies are needed to examine social and cultural characteristics of villages and changes in social and cultural indicators of villages. Results from surveys done among villagers and measuring of the relations using Pearson's correlation coefficient suggest a relatively significant correlation, with the coefficient of 0.658, between socio-cultural changes and patterns of rural housing. After examining the impact of socio-cultural changes of rural life on rural housing model, it was discovered that 58.6 percentage of changes in housing patterns is determined by an independent variable. On the other hand, most changes in dependent variable are explained by the index of cultural acceptance with the positive impact of 8/66 percent: In rural communities, fear from social anomalies as an indicator has a negative impact on rural housing pattern.
Analysis showed that the index of tendency to consumerism has affected four indicators of rural housing and its greatest effects was reported to be of the coefficients of 0.34 and 0.29, respectively for satisfaction and architectural plan of rural housing. So, sociocultural changes have had a fairly significant impact on the pattern of rural housing that can confirm the hypothesis of the research. The best proposed strategies to make positive cultural and social changes in rural life and the influence of such changes on rural housing pattern and getting more success in the area of housing include:
- Giving attention to cultural needs and social structure of villages in the design of rural housing
- Identifying the function of each component of rural housing and its proper conformity with villagers' current needs
- Paying attention to the welfare of the villagers in rural settlements and using urban housing patterns in accordance with rural culture and environment;
- Paying attention to geographical and climatic characteristics of villages, in addition to updating and creating prosperity of rural housing, to help us prevent natural disasters.

Analysis of economic and physical situation of rural areas; In relation to the quality of rural life in Chabahar County

Bagher Kord

Introduction

The quality of individual life of each person depends on external objective factors of his life and his mental and internal perceptions of it. Improving the quality of life in a particular place or for specific individuals and groups is one of those issues that have always been focused by planners. Improving the quality of life is an important issue that was firstly noted by scholars through widespread development of technology and the process of industrialization in Western countries. According to scientific studies, the connection of economic development and life quality is not a linear one. Rather, these two will be remained aligned just as long as the minimum of favorable material conditions will be provided for human life. Otherwise, we cannot expect that eliminating economic needs help improve the quality of life. Since human beings are multifaceted and complex, economic logic cannot explain lots of their behaviors. Noting the importance of life quality and humanitarian issues of South East geographical environment, in this study, we have tried to investigate economic and physical aspects of rural areas in Chabahar, as well as analyzing the quality of rural life there.

Methodology

The present study has been conducted using documents and field studies .Information required for field studies have been collected through the questionnaires. Then the data obtained have been processed using the indicators of descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software. Statistical population of the research consists of the villagers inhabited in the villages of Chabahar County. Required samples for the research have been selected by multistage cluster sampling method. The selected sample size has been a number of 350 people as the head of the households. The number of sample villages and households in each village was selected based on the proportional allocation of the number of inhabited villages in each district.

Discussion and conclusion
Given the importance of strategic, geopolitical and geo-economic region of South East Iran and because of the great tendency of most inhabitants of this region to rural life, in this study, we have tried to examine some of the most important economic and structural indicators of rural areas in Chabahar County in order to help policy and planning systems and analyze the quality of life in rural area of Chabahar, the Province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Final results indicate lack of villagers' satisfaction with the quality of their lives in the studied area. Because, based on economic indicators, the coefficient for the enjoyment of income, subsistence, annual savings and employment situation in the village is in an unfavorable condition. The quality of infrastructures, electriCounty, telephone, radio and television coverage are in good conditions but some other indicators like access to communication routes, public transport, safe drinking water, fuel-distribution and access to financial services and credits do not have any acceptable condition.
In terms of residential environment quality, the residential unit was perfect only in terms of size and infrastructure while there was no favorable condition for other features like its resistance against natural disasters, use of resistant materials, the beauty of shape and form, separation of the whereabouts of animals, methods of collecting waste, landfill sites and sewage networks. The following suggestions, derived from management and research experiences, are recommended to upgrade the quality of rural life in Chabahar area.
Since agriculture has a dominant economic role in this region and because of the fact that the development in this area requires developing of ancillary services, it is essential to establish agricultural machinery repair centers, veterinary centers, and banking services in each rural district.
- Motivating people to progress, and making them hopeful of a bright future in the village through the creation of new business opportunities in the field of agro-based industries, tourism, and development of processing industry;
- Take necessary measures to create dynamic and sustainable financial resources, especially for small farmers, in order to expand the coverage of special insurance to protect villagers' lives and their property.
- Trying to develop rural social welfare institutions by transferring of these activities to rural municipalities and focusing on the activities of all institutions and rganizations that are responsible for welfare services to the villagers;
- Strengthening infrastructural facilities and equipment including water, electriCounty, telecommunication and communication offices.
- Increasing the number of cooperative stores and fuel stations by public participation and technical and financial support of the government through the relevant agencies.

Analysis of Land-use suitability in the metropolitan County of Orumiyeh in line with spatial planning

Ali Akbar Taghiloo

Introduction

Land-use planning has three subcategories: allocation, politics and economics. In general, allocation is the interaction between land proportion (supply) and the area required (demand), in current condition of the region. On the other hand, politics is the spatial planning. The economic aspect of land use is dedicated to the fact that in the system of supply and demand in order to establish activities aimed at spatial planning, relative power and positioning of applications should be reviewed to optimize operations and increase land rent with an emphasis on ecological conditions of spatial planning. Land-use suitability can be influenced by various attenuation and amplification factors. Attenuators includes: drying of Lake Uremia, incorrect use of surface water resources, illegal wells, low power and steep land cultivation, differentiation and fragmentation of land in suburban areas, converting agricultural land to orchards, developing agro-based industries such as sugar mills and water-intensive crops that causes land degradation and decrease of its utility.

On the other hand, the development of North – South rail and road communication lines in the province, development of energy lines in various regions as well as the development of border markets, creation of rural-County, and the development of urban economic opportunities in different areas are making a good platform to increase rents and economic benefits of lands which can also increase the desirability of lands. Therefore, current economic and ecological conditions and policy development in the province has created a new platform for land-use changes. The aim of this study is to investigate the desirability of land for existing and future applications based on human and natural criteria to determine the quality of each user of the status quo in terms of natural ability, and its relative position based on its impact on land rent.

Methodology

This is a descriptive – analytical research using space approach. Huge land use in the area studied was found using images of SPOT satellites, in a controlled manner, through ENVI software. Then, 14 experts of natural resources, agriculture, economics, rural, urban and tourism geography have prioritized and categorized utility analysis criteria on a Likert format to be quite favorable (5), good (4), relatively favorable (3), unfavorable (2), completely unsatisfactory (1). Then, using GIS software, the utility of each user to each criterion was determined. Finally, land utility was determined using five criteria: distance from County, distance from communication lines, electricity, gas and land slope after determining weighted coefficients of each criteria by experts through overlapping the layers.

Discussion and conclusion
Optimum use of land is considered as one of the most important objectives included in spatial planning and land use. This is due to the fact that having sufficient knowledge of land situations can help us more than some of its infrastructure and natural criteria to determine the value of land and its potential for human settlement and his activities. Results from the study show that there is a favorable range of different land-use in the east of the studied area. Because, this region has a better situation than the west region mostly in regard to the development of some infrastructures such as power networks including electricity and gas and the establishment of municipal infrastructure. Also, it has a good situation to attract investment in agriculture and industrial activities.
These results are greatly consistent with von Thünen theory. As, the metropolitan County of Orumiyeh has been located in this area and there is a high quality of industrial, agricultural and gardening applications. Another important factor is that because of the suitability of agricultural lands in this area, local people show great tendency to the fragmentation of lands and gardens and changing them into private recreational areas. It can cause either natural resources depletion (Land and water) in the production cycle or conversion of agricultural land to garden land which may lead to the increase of water consumption. In addition, results show that the communication network is more extensive in the west than in the east of the County, and there is a wide
utility of applications to the ways in this region.
According to the results, the ratio of quite favorable lands to the ways is almost about 36.29% of the total lands, while it is 21.99% for favorable lands. The conformation of land use to its slope indicates that about 41.4% of the total land use is dedicated to the lands with a land slope lower than 5% and 20.3% is also dedicated to the lands of the land slope of 5 to 10%. The utility of lands compared to the County and its electriCounty and gas network is not high enough. The overall results reveal the fact that, regarding these criteria, quite favorable lands are respectively making 5.16%, 3.8% and 7.7% of the total lands in the area. Also, the portion of favorable lands is 13.7, 3.9, and 8.3% of the entire lands. Results from this study can be even applied in spatial planning and the concentration of activities and human forces in this area.

Economic and social consequences of agricultural mechanization in rural settlements Case: rural district of South Astarābād in Gorgan County

Aliakbar najafi kani

Introduction

Todays, the importance of agricultural development and putting more value on it, unlike past days, is concluded from the fact that in the process of economic development program, an increasing attention is given to social welfare goals in addition to other goals of increasing revenue. In every society, at times of population increase, the increase of agricultural products, which is in direct relation with the rate of population increase, requires an increase of the productivity in existing lands relying on the improvement of farming techniques and irrigation systems. Basically, agricultural development means a transition of traditional techniques to modern industrial ways of production which includes top modern agricultural techniques like planting and harvest methods and the use of agricultural machinery. Agricultural mechanization is a new approach of providing the situation of promoting from traditional to modern agriculture. Additionally, it is considered as the most useful factor to help us achieve our goals of rural development. Machinery technology development is a matter of great importance in rural development strategies. Using technology in the process of rural development can lead to the elimination of barriers to production. As mechanization causes less difficulties and more money from agricultural activities, it makes farming more fascinating for villagers and stimulate them to continue their farming activities and prevent them continuously move to the cities. In this research, we are investigating possible consequences of mechanization and its effect on rural development of south Astarābād to find answers to the following questions:

1) Is there any connection between agricultural mechanization with productivity and improvement of agricultural economy?
2) To what extent has agricultural mechanization affected promoting of social components such as reducing immigration and increasing farmers' tendency to stay in rural districts?
3) Is there any relation between official policies or responsible organization and agricultural mechanization?

Methodology

This is an applied research which has been done using descriptive- analytical approach in a field study. For data analysis and interpretation, independent T test, Mann Whitney test, and the process of correlation analysis have been applied in SPSS software. Statistical population of the research consists of two types of agricultural households, a group of more mechanized households and another group of less mechanized ones, from 22 villages located in rural district of South Astarābād. A number of 10 villages (including 6 plain villages and 9 mountain villages) were chosen as sample society based on the total number of 6423 households and homogeneity of the villages in terms of geographical features. Using Cochran formula, the sample size of the society (190 households) was determined. Considering the population of each village, their participation in answering the questionnaires was determined. Questionnaires were delivered among different households in a simple random sampling way.

Discussion and conclusion
By its effect on timely agricultural operations and reducing production costs, agricultural mechanization plays an effective role in increasing revenues and consequently improving economic level and quality of life for agricultural uses. According to the results from the questionnaires a significant relation of a top confidence level (95 or 99%) is confirmed between agricultural mechanization with productivity and improvement of economic and social components. In this regard, the government plays a key role in the development of mechanization infrastructures such as integration, leveling, land drainage, giving low-interest loans and making decisions for agricultural institutions. Considering the fact that lower participation and self-help of operators and lack of education and awareness of the benefits of mechanization are the most important factors affecting the failure of the government and people in promoting mechanization, an overall management and programming by the government is inevitable to help us achieve our goals. The followings are suggested for the improvement of mechanization.

- Strong support of the government for infrastructure development of agricultural mechanization such as land consolidation, irrigation channels, land leveling and drainage, irrigation development, and construction of roads between farms;
- Reducing official bureaucracy and granting low-interest loans by banks to promote agricultural mechanization;
- Holding training and educational coursed for the introduction of proper use of machineries and their technology to the farmers.

An analysis of the effects of the subsidies targeting on rural households; applying the approach of sustainable livelihoods in Kalat and Binalud County

Ali Alimadadi

Introduction

According to general census in 2011, rural population of the country has been over 21 million and 603 thousand people. Considering the per capita monthly subsidy equivalent to 455,000 riyals, it can be resulted that in the first three years of the project, over 353 trillion has been allocated to rural community. Calculations show that this amount is equivalent to 2.4% of the total budget intended for this period of time. It was the first time that this amount of cash was being directly distributed among villagers by its cost and expenditure management being transferred to the families themselves. It seems that this method of paying subsidies has greatly influenced on economic and social status of rural communities.

Considering economic and cultural structure of rural societies together with attempts to remedy the lack of liquidity, a large amount of subsidies granted is spending for household livelihood expenses such as food, non-food and service expenses. Therefore, in this article we are intended to investigate the impacts of targeted subsidies on the current status of livelihood expenses of rural households in different social strata as well as making a comparison of targeted subsidies in two geographical areas (Kalat and Binalud). Generally, in this research we are trying to find answers to the questions that: 1) how is the position of natural resources, economic capital and people s income in rural areas of Kalat and Binalud (Torghabeh Shandiz)? 2) How did targeted subsidies affect to change patterns of livelihood expenses in different classes of rural areas in the County of Kalat and Binalud? And is there any significant difference between the two areas or not?

Methodology

This research is an applied one which has been provided using the quantitative approach of descriptive-analytical. This is an exploratory research, as well. Basically, it has been done using the principals of survey researches which has investigated the effects of targeted subsidies (independent variable) on livelihood expenses of rural households (dependent variable) applying post event processing. This research has done in the two cities of Kalat and Binalud located in Khorasan Razavi. There are two reasons for choosing these cities. First, these are greatly influenced by their position i.e., they are located near the metropolitan County of Mashhad. Then, due to the border location of the two cities, not many researchers have concentrated on the matter of development in these areas, yet. So, due to the importance of environmental contrasts in geography, data analysis has been conducted using comparative approach that helped us study different aspects of the matter to determine and classify the role of different geographical foundations (including natural conditions, the distribution of basic economic resources, income, and social conditions) in class differences among rural groups. We have eventually compared the impact of paying subsidies on the increase of income and consequently on changing spending patterns of livelihood expenses by the residents of the two areas. Questionnaires providing in two types of qualitative and quantitative are being considered as the main tools of the study. Quantitative questions are mostly intended to answer the first question of the research which includes some issues of households' social features (population, age, gender, education) and economic resources (occupation, expenses and income, land, livestock, housing, and machinery resources). Qualitative questions aim at the investigation of changes in spending patterns by rural households to answer the second question arose in the research. This type of questions consist of 8 main components (food and non-food items, educational, medical, and healthcare expenses, communication services, tourism, Energy, agricultural institutions) of more than 54 reagents.

Discussion and conclusion
Emphasizing sustainable livelihoods approach, this research aims at analyzing consequences of targeted subsidies plan on the changes in spending patterns in different social strata of rural communities. Then, comparing the results in the two areas of Kalat and Binalud we will be able to examine the impact of geographical factors. As contrasting foundations of every natural area can be considered to be the basis of economic and social differences of different societies that may be changed later by the government policies. According to the survey, particular environmental situations and capacities of rural settlements in each of these areas has made different economic functions at regional level related to local communications and its connection with the metropolitan County of Mashhad. These factors are so much effective that each single one can cause long-time consolidation of special economic, social and cultural mechanisms in rural areas and geographical environments. There is no doubt that these factors firstly influence the economic business of the studied area. In Binalud, there are approximately 10 % of rich families by an average monthly income of higher than 20 million riyals which are owning of almost about 21% of economic resources. In return, the rest 70% of low-income families (less than 10 million riyals) are providing with 52% of economic resources. This situation indicates bigger class differences in this area.
The above mentioned indicators are not so much far from each other in Kalat. Additionally, different interactions and communications between urban and rural areas and their impacts on the households' livelihoods caused changes in spending patterns of rural households. Because,b 65% of Kalat villagers mentioned that, compared to the past, after receiving cash subsidies no change occurred in their spending. As an overall conclusion, the new method of targeted subsidies has relatively influenced the increase of income in lower social classes (about 15 to 25%) and somewhat moderated class differences. This factor has greatly affected spending patterns and made it improved, while it can be said that, due to the free price of subsidized goods, it didn’t lead to the sustainable livelihood of households.

Evaluating the performance of institutions and organizations related to rural sustainability Case: Dehdez district in Izeh County

Hojat Allah Sadeghi

Introduction

One of the necessary principles of rural development is its management. A special approach of development is needed to be planned for every particular area. On the other hand, it is not useful to apply an integrated approach of development by new managing systems. At this point we can clearly understand the important role of institutions and organizations related to the structuralfunctional development of villages. These institutions and organizations have critical roles in different economic, social, cultural, and eco-environmental aspects of a society. Those tasks defined for some of these institutions and organizations are a combination of different aspects or a single task oriented which can affect rural planning and its development. Management aspects of institutions and organizations related to rural development are among the most important factors here. Although, compared to previous years, considerable changes have occurred in rural management systems but they couldn’t cause rural sustainability. In this regard, structuralfunctioning performance of organizations and institutions related to the current status of villages was highly decisive. So, regarding rural position with the great impact of its development on local national progress, it seems necessary to investigate the performance of the institutions and organizations in different economic, social, cultural, eco-environmental, and structural aspects of villages. This research aims at evaluating the performance of institutions and organizations related to rural sustainability to find ways to the regional development of Dehdez district in the County of Izeh.

Methodology

This is an applied research conducted by descriptive-analytical approach. Required data was collected through document-library and field studies. Data required for field studies were collected through questionnaires. Among all the residential villages of the area which are over 101, a number of 30 villages (25% of all villages) have been randomly selected as questioning samples. Based on Cochran formula 315 households were selected as statistical samples. Sample population has been distributed among 30 villages using the ratio method proportional to population. Finally, data have been collected and analyzed in SPSS and AMOS software. One- sample t test and correlation analysis methods were used in inferential statistics.

Discussion and conclusion
Regional and integrated developments are the consequences of good programming of acceptable performances of rural institutions and organizations. People believe that, compared to the past 30 years, these institutions and organizations have been acted successfully in terms of economic, social, structural, and eco-environmental aspects. Additionally, they have caused positive changes in programming and fighting against poverty. The most remarkable thing in terms of changes happened is the matter of time requirements and factors affecting this field of study. In other words, in every period of time the existing factors and facilities have influenced on the performance of related organizations and institutions. Another important point is that in spite of spatial inequalities in the provision of services and facilities to the rural areas, relative satisfaction with the performance of such institution and organizations is still visible.
Although the performance of these organizations has been acceptable in four different aspects, their weaknesses cannot be ignored. In fact, if these organizations could make changes in rural development, they couldn’t cause rural sustainability and unsustainability is still continuing there. It can be said that even after the establishment and extra interfering of institutions in rural management, not only have not these human settlements become sustainable, but also several economic, social, and eco-environmental changes have been imposed on them.
Therefore, in spite of the fact that this research is intending to show the effectiveness of rural institutions on the improvement of rural position, it should be mentioned that it is a moderate impact appropriate to the time requirements which is mostly concentrated on services with no effective impact on rural sustainability. So, integrated objectives and systemic perspectives should be taken by managers and programmers and decision making should be done within the same framework. According to the results from the study, in line with the improvement of organizational and institutional performances in the studied area and other generalized regions, a few suggestions are presented:
1. Organizational and institutional emphasis on an integrated systematic rural development and sustainability by paying more attention to all the variables mentioned in the study.
2. More emphasis of related authorities and institutions on economic development of rural areas considering results from the study that shows some deficiencies in terms of income, employment, variety of activities, and ….
3. According to the better functions of rural institutions and organizations in social dimension of villages and the inseparable connection of economic and social dimensions, the existing capacity of social variables should be used for the improvement and promotion of economic sector.
4. Based on the results from the study it can be implied that the lack of suitable institutional interaction in different dimensions of rural development is one of the deficiencies and weaknesses in terms of rural sustainability. On the other hand, each institution and organization is trying for its own goals and it cannot lead to the comprehensive and sustainable rural development. So, it is suggested to increase this type of interactions and try to establish a new organization responsible for rural development.

Analyzing Physical and Economic Impacts of Rural Guide Plans Case: Villages of Kermanshah County

Jafar Tavakkoli

Introduction

One of the implemented plans in this case is the rural guide plan which is prepared and implemented by Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation since 1362. Guide plan, as an outer variable, has impacts on rural structures including these four dimensions: physical, economic, social and environmental. In villages of Kermanshah County, lack of educational, health care and business services along with inappropriateness of rural passages, lack of housing resistance against natural disasters and consequently the increase of migration from villages to cities lead to preparing and implementing guide plan in some villages. So, in this county the guide plan has been implemented in 7.40 percent of the region (56 villages) before 2012. It seems that its impacts have been less than what is expected and its implementation is limited to some changes in physical texture and economic factors have been less considered. Therefore, this study tries to answer this question that to what extent does guide plan implementation lead to physical and economic change in the studied villages? What kind of relation is between physical and economic impacts of the plan? And regarding situational and population factors, is there a meaningful difference in physical and economic impacts of guide plan implementation in the studied villages?

Methodology

This study is a descriptive-analytical one, regarding its methodology. For data collection and recognizing the studied villages, documentary method and survey have been used. Since this study tries to recognize the impacts and the outcomes of guide plan implementation, it uses an assessment after implementation which is an approach that is different from the purpose. This approach ignores the considered purposes in the plans consciously and deliberately and it aims to study all the impacts and outcomes of the plan that are beyond its purposes. Based on theoretical basis and background, 21 items in physical dimension and 18 items in economic dimension were defined. The method of choosing the studied villages is a selective method and according to the judgment; for choosing them some indicators such as natural condition, population, distance from the county, and the number of projects that have been implemented and the time duration of the plan implementation (5 years and more) are considered. Statistical population includes 2467 households that are residents of the mentioned villages; by using Cochran Formula 332 households were obtained as sample size and at the end 340 households have been chosen. Sampling method in statistical population is classified randomly. For data description, this method uses descriptive statistics like mean, frequency, and percent and to analyze them, it uses Kruskal Wallis Test, Spearman Correlation Test, Nounally Method and Standard Deviation Distance from Mean.

Discussion and Conclusion
Guide plan implementation aims to provide facilities in a fair manner by creating social, welfare, production facilities, necessary facilities for rural housing improvement and creating environmental, public services and guiding the physical development of the villages. The study's findings show that in physical dimension, the most impact of the plan regarding the respondents' point of view, is the appropriate orientation of rural development and development of infrastructural services. Despite of some shortcomings in development of green space, locating the disposal of sewages and waste, results show that guide plan implementation has a partly desirable impact on physical change in the studied villages. The impact of the plan for orientation of rural development and development of infrastructural services was more remarkable. This finding reveals that direct and urgent impacts of the plan on physical environment of the village are positive. But some implementation weaknesses and institutional inconsistency can be considered as the causes of the mentioned shortcomings. Economic changes are followed by physical change in villages among them the price change for houses that are near to main road is remarkable. The analysis of effective factors on guide plan implementation showed that villages located in foothills, with more population and with 10-20 kilometers distance from Kermanshah, had more physical and economic changes; these findings can express the less flourished capabilities of these villages that are emerged by guide plan implementation. Regarding to this study results that were mentioned briefly, to improve the guide plan implementation in physical and economic dimensions in Kermanshah villages, some suggestions are as follow:
1. Considering the obtained means according to respondents' point of view, unhealthy way of sewage disposal creates an inappropriate condition in terms of environmental health in the studied villages.
2. Regarding to improvement of passages in most of the studied villages, there is an urgent need for providing necessary mechanisms to maintain these achievements through educating people.
3. regarding to existing problems in physical and economic impacts that are especially obvious in projects such as paving the passages, developing green space and appropriate way of sewage and waste disposal, investment and engagement in light engineering and industry, lack of appropriate coordination between organization and Housing Foundation is suggested. In this regard, before implementing the guide plan it is necessary for other organizations and engaged institution in rural development to be coordinated and play an effective role in the process of implementation of the plan by providing clear guidelines for them. So, impacts and outcomes of the plan are not limited to physical cases that are inadequate and these lead to economic and social development of the village too.

The Role of Handicrafts in Rural Tourism Economy Case: Foothill Villages of Behshahr County

Asadollah Divsalar

Introduction

In this world, villages have turned to a be a place for those people who escape from urban life and machinated life and so people travel to villages to rest. Regarding to the range of demands and necessities of rural environments in these days, rural tourism is developing and its importance and appealing is increasing. In the process of regional planning, rural tourism can be considered as a tool for increasing the local occupation and improving the quality of life and as a result increasing the level of economic welfare and social facilities. Handicrafts in rural regions is a complement factor for agricultural economy. Because of potential job creation opportunities and also earning money, while handicrafts can fill villagers' free time and eliminate unemployment, it can prevent seasonal or permanent migrations that is considered as one of the social harms. This study tries to answer two questions about foothill villages in Behshar County which are very potential at creating and producing handicrafts: First of all, what is the role of growing and developing handicrafts in rural tourism economy? And secondly, regarding the role of handicrafts in tourism economy what villages are at the top respectively?

Methodology

Methodology used in this study is descriptive and analytic-survey. Data collection has been done by documentary and field study using Likert Scale questionnaires. Data collection has been done by documentary and field study using Likert Scale questionnaires. Statistical population includes 18 foothill villages of Behshahr County; their geographical location and demographic features are shown in figure 2 and table 1. Handicraft products in these villages include wood craving, sculptor, felting, wrapper weaving, carpet weaving, basket weaving, and based on Cochran Formula, 249 householders were chosen as sample size and they were classified randomly. For data analysis, One Sample T Test, Chi- Square, and deviation from optimum have been used. To evaluate validity and stability of the questionnaires by Cronbach's Coefficient Alfa, the results of 25 questionnaires have been tested; the calculated Alfa is 0.89. To obtain validity of the 249 questionnaires, KMO Test and Bartlett's Test have been used; the obtained number is 0.8 that suggests a desirable validity.

Discussion and Conclusion
Tourism and tourism economy have turned to one of the major business principle of world. Beside tourism that has an effective role in national development and diversification of national and regional economy, handicrafts can be a complement for some historical and tourism attractions. Tourism is one of the most important activities; in recent decades tourism has a special place in economic development in some countries. This industry creates income, foreign exchange, job and also it exchanges culture, and more than that it has assigned a share in economic activities of the world including exports. Results show that handicrafts have a role in development of rural tourism economy in Behshahr that is more than the average level. In foothill villages of Behshahr county, among all the villages, Koa village with number 2.59 has the least impact regarding the following indicators: attracting native and non-native tourists, improving the level of earning income for tourism activists, developing the sustainable capacities, attracting cultural tourists, developing and improving tourism attractions and setting up exhibitions for developing handicrafts. Kiasar village with the number 4.76, and having the first grade, has the most impact regarding the mentioned indicators.

Recognizing Optimality Criteria in Financing Institutions Forest-Mountain Area of Eastern Bandpey, Babol County

Hamid Jalalian

Introduction

After land reform, some actions have been done for rural finance by creating financial institutions such as credit cooperatives, Agriculture Bank and interest-free loan funds which were not successful in improving poor people livelihood. The studied area in this study includes a forest-mountain area that have small and sporadic villages and they are far from rural-urban continuum. In fact, these areas face with basic shortcomings because of their location in geographical isolation, lack of development of market, scattered villages, low population density and unavailability of services (including financial services). Researchers' preliminary studies in this area showed that in financial markets of the forest-mountain villages in Bandpey part of Babol county, for rural finance to meet their needs in micro level, include just officialpublic institutions and semipublic ones (agriculture Bank, credit cooperatives and Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation) that were not operating as rural financial institutions, so in the studied area this question is raised that in spite of the availability of financial institutions, why the level of financing services is low for villagers? Or in other words, why the available financial institutions could not be successful in attracting villagers? Therefore, the question is that what are the characteristics of financial institution for being successful in presenting financial services? This study aims to recognize optimality criteria in institutions that offer financial services in rural districts and tries to present a framework in rural financial institutionalization to help rural managers and development planners in rural financial domain such as Agriculture Bank, rural financial cooperatives, Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and rural interest-free loan funds.

Methodology

Ito consider the subject, a qualitative approach has been chosen in this study. So, 25 villagers that are residents of forest-mountain villages of eastern Bandpey in the county have been selected in a purposeful way; data collection has been done through in-depth semi-structured interviews to the theoretical saturation point. Following that, for more clarification and conducting in-depth interview, some follow-up and exploratory questions have been used. After each interview, all the statements were written on the paper. The obtained data from interviews were analyzed by using qualitative content analysis method (by the framework of an inductive approach). To increase the creditability and acceptability of data, these methods have been used: simultaneous data analysis, continuous observation, review by supervisors and selecting the main informants; accuracy and authenticity of data (stability) have been considered too, regarding these indicators: maximum number of participants, desirable relation with participants, accuracy in recording data, using external researchers and supervisors, long time engagement with research and obtained data.

Discussion and Conclusion
On the major subject that is extracted is "flexibility". On the major subject that is extracted is "flexibility". Flexibility of rural financial institution means the flexibility in time duration for loan repayment that does not interfere with planting season and the time that farmers and ranchers should spend money for their works. The results show that when the time of loan repayment interfere with the time that small farmers do not have cash money, this leads to excluding some people from taking credits and more than that those who were able to take the credit, could not gain enough profit. Availability is a criterion in rural space that have low level of livelihood, in faraway geographical location is of great importance. In one hand, availability means physical availability. This criterion can be understandable when rural forest-mountain area is understandable. These areas face with problems because of dispersion of villages and their distance from urban area to receive services including financial services. In another way, lack of finance leads to irresponsibility. Considering the findings showed that if rural financial institutions were dependent to government subsidies, offering credits to meet villagers' needs would be uncertain all the time. Another criterion, a sub-dimension of availability, is "having responsibility regarding to the conditions that farmers face with a social-economic problem". In one hand, small farmers and ranchers' livelihood is always exposed to natural, social and economic crisis (especially in forest-mountain regions), and in another hand, their week financial support make villagers vulnerable to these kind of dangers. The obtained results showed that optimality of a rural financial institution is related to offering services in all dimensions of financial services especially loan, saving and insurance. Therefore, one the most important issues for optimality of the rural financial institutions is the capacity of saving for small farmers and ranchers; they have high desire for saving. Official financial institutions and semi-official ones could not support this dimension of villagers' need with a commercial approach. According to the findings, villagers do not consider financial institutions as merely a monetary institution; they expect an appropriate financial institution not only offer monetary services, but also they expect them offer social services that need investment, or assignment of subsidies on their necessary products for their agriculture. The study findings showed that the assigned small loan is a loan for agriculture not for the farmer, and it rarely considers the need of the villagers for consumption. It is suggested that researchers on institutional issues and service institution in rural districts consider these issues in the time of occurrence and with direct observations and interviews; they should familiarize with their challenges and by a topdown and bottom-up approach, they can present a suitable strategy for the same areas to overcome their problems.

SPACE ECONOMY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

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Analyzing Physical and Economic Impacts of Rural Guide Plans Case: Villages of Kermanshah County

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Recognizing Optimality Criteria in Financing Institutions Forest-Mountain Area of Eastern Bandpey, Babol County

Extended Abstract