Determining the sustainable farming system from viewpoint of experts in the downstream lands of Karamabad Dam in Poldasht Township, Iran

The present research is an applied research conducted by survey method in order to determine the sustainable farming system in the downstream lands of the Karamabad dam. The statistical population includes all experts who had sufficient information and experience about dimensions of sustainability of farming systems especially in the research area. Using targeted sampling method, 15 experts were identified. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the faculty members in economics, extension and environment majors of the Urmia University. The inconsistibility rate was used to measure reliability. Utilizing the Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP) the decision tree was made consisting of criteria, sub-criteria and options, for determining a sustainable farming system. The data were analyzed using Expert choice software. The results showed that considering economic, social and environmental criteria, farming joint stock companies was introduced as the most sustainable farming system from the viewpoint of experts. Also, in terms of economic and environmental criteria, the agro-industry farming system was in the second priority. In terms of social sub-criteria, the small peasant farming system had better than other farming systems because of solving the problem of ownership conflict. Necessary suggestions for setting up farming joint stock companies in the study area were provided.