Solutions for Development of Rural Areas with Emphasis on Diversifying the Economy in Nahavand County of Iran

The present study, in terms of method, had a combination of documentary and survey methods and in terms of nature, was based on new methods of futurology, research, analysis and exploration and it was conducted with a combination of quantitative and qualitative models. Firstly, the required data were collected through both desk study and interviews with seventeen experts of all organizations related to rural affairs as well as five village administrators and rural council members of Nahavand County of Iran as key individuals within a Delphi panel; and the components that could have a significant impact on the diversification of rural economy in the future, were identified. Then, a questionnaire consisting of these components in the form of a cross-matrix was provided to the panel of experts. The weighting of this questionnaire was measured by pairwise comparisons and the relationship between variables and numbers between zero and three. After completing the questionnaire by the statistical population, the findings were analyzed using MICMAC software. The results showed that the components of using the production capacity of each village, creating industrial units around rural areas, strengthening transportation and communication infrastructures, social support such as insurance and also creating high-yield enterprises, with the most direct and indirect effects on other components, were the most important solutions for diversifying the economy in the rural communities of the studied county.