فهرست مطالب پروین شفیعی

Ardestan (located in Isfahan province) is one of the counties whose population has always faced fluctuations during the past years. Considering the low population growth rate in Ardestan, it is expected that in 2016 its population will reach about 411 thousand people. Immigration is one of the important causes of population fluctuations in this city.

Planning is a deliberate process that anticipates a series of actions and related activities in the future in order to achieve specific goals. Planning methods can be considered in two horizontal (decentralization) and vertical (centralization) aspects. A study on decentralization and its role in rural development is an important issue that should be considered. In fact, the city and the countryside should be considered as one organism in which the relations between the city and the village should be considered with a view to decentralization, because the excessive attention to cities and centralization have stopped the growth of villages and led to evil growth of cities. In the long term, this is beneficial neither to cities not villages; therefore, and because of the importance of this discussion in all economic, social and political spheres, we are going to present the concept of decentralization.

Ardestan County lies between the east longitude of 52 degrees and 22 minutes and north latitude of 33 degrees and 22 degrees. It is limited on the north to salt pan, on the south to Isfahan, on the east to the city of Na’ine and on the west to the cities of Natanz and Kashan. It is 1209 meters above sea level, its highest point is 3200 meters and it is approximately 17643 kilometers. Its population is 45150 people, and it consists of 3 cities called Ardestan, Zavareh and Mahabad, 2 central districts and 7 rural districts. In terms of the geographical location of the city, it has a good position among the cities of the country because it is located on the main strategic route connecting the north to the south. This is the reason why the city continues its life in spite of difficult environmental conditions. The Tehran – Kerman railroad crosses the city (between Zavareh and Ardestan), a special privilege enjoyed only by a few cities. There is a certain kind of relationship between the city and the surrounding countryside which need to be carefully reviewed.

Study on rural industries is undoubtedly one of the most important economic necessities, because population growth and consequently the reduction of facilities cause unemployment unless some of these deficiencies and problems are reduced and diminished. Therefore, industrialization of villages in its real sense is one of the important functions in terms of employment, raising the income of individuals and ultimately preventing migrations from villages to cities, because the villagers' departure from villages will not only not solve the problem of villages but indeed intensify them. Considering that rural industries are complementary to the agricultural and animal husbandry sectors, we intend to examine this issue and, in general, define rural industries and their characteristics, classify them and study the importance of development and support methods, the problems of establishing these industries, the difference between urban and rural industries and the position of these industries in Iran's economy. It is hoped that this effort will show a way forward for the future and the authorities to stop the continuous rural migrations by developing rural industries and creating employment.