Economic ranking and spatial analysis of saffron production limitations in Qain County

Agriculture as an influential sector in Iranian economy, is essential for the political and economic independence of the country. Agricultural production is carried out in any situation according to the prevailing natural, economic, social and cultural conditions. Agricultural production has been common in villages over the years, and with the advent of the modern industry sector, it  became rather  subsistence agriculture  , a system based on consumption of the commodities the village produced.  Agricultural activities, however, should be not merely for the needs of villagers,  and they need to be a means for  export goodsto obtain income and economic growth in the global economy. In this study, saffron as a strategic product was investigated regarding itseconomic ranking and spatial analysis of the limitations of production in Ghayenat County. .

In this paper, gray multi-indices decision-making method (GRA) was used for economic ranking and spatial analysis of saffron production limitations in Ghayenat County. The opinions of 40 experts of the Agricultural Jahad Organization of South Khorasan and Qaen were obtained and modeled. GRASolver.2018 software was used for data analysis. Also, a set of indicators with economic, social, environmental and physical-spatial dimensions are set for the experts to check the limits of saffron production. In addition, a set of indicators forhuman, financial, social and natural capitals were determined to check the living conditions of the studied households.

The findings indicate the ranking of indicators according to the economic, social and cultural, environmental and physical and spatial factors affecting the limitation of saffron production in Qaen County. In the indicators of lack of warehouse and suitable place to store products, lack of access to IT technology for marketing and information about the price of products and traditional exploitation system, social and cultural factor and environmental factor in the indicators of traditional exploitation system, cost Water motors electricity and the effect of government policies, physical and spatial factor in the criteria of the traditional exploitation system and the electricity costs of water motors have priority over other criteria.