Measuring and Evaluating the Dimensions Affecting the improvement of Resilience of Rural Communities in the Face of Drought (Case Study: Sabzevar County)

Increasing resiliency is the most important factor in maintaining the flexibility of socio-environmental systems and combating drought. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze resilience indices in rural communities facing drought in three villages with different drought intensities in Sabzevar city. Therefore, first, using drought zoning maps based on SPEI index in a ten-year period, villages in three very severe, severe, and moderate drought zones were identified and one village from each zone was randomly selected. Then, farmers were identified and surveyed as the target population using a survey approach. According to the total number of farmers in the three villages, the sample size was estimated at 105 people, according to the Cochran formula. Based on resiliency questionnaires and statistical tests, dimensions and indices affecting resiliency were evaluated. The results of the LISREL measurement model based on the first level variables of resilience measurement showed that the most influential and important dimensions on resilience were infrastructure, physical and natural dimensions. The economic and financial, social and cultural, governance and management, and human and individual dimensions are respectively in the next order of importance. Measurement of resilience dimensions in the studied villages showed that social and cultural dimension had the highest and natural dimension had the lowest impact among dimensions in the studied villages in this area. In general, reinforcement of effective dimensions can enhance flexibility and adaptability to the environment and play a major role in minimizing potential losses in critical situations. In this regard, special attention should be paid to the decision-making and allocation of resources to the local farmers in the face of disasters.