Optimum Location of date processing industries in Kazerun Township

Agro-processing industries are an important part of agricultural production. Processing procedure leads to the farmers’ additional income by transformation of surplus products to added value. Utilizing the existent possibilities، these industries play an important role in rural development. As one of the main agricultural products of the Kazerun Township، the locational analysis of date processing industries is investigated in this study. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology was used to assess of criteria and determine priorities of sextuple districts of the region for date processing industries. Data was gathered through interviewing the rural industries and agricultural experts of the region and completing the criteria and alternatives pairwise comparison questionnaires. As the results، the relative weights of the criteria were determined as 0. 27، 0. 24، 0. 19، 0. 09، 0. 08، 0. 7 and 0. 06 respectively for raw material availability، economical profitability، transportation accessibility، energy resources، geographical situations، land price and labor force. Regarding these weights and also the alternatives pairwise comparisons، the ultimate prioritization of the sextuple districts of the region for date processing industries was distinguished as 0. 29، 0. 22، 0. 11، 0. 1 and 0. 06 respectively for the districts of Khesht، Central and Kenartakhteh & Komarj (in common)، Jarreh & Baladeh، Chenarshahijan and Kouhmareh.