Assessing rural problems, their roots and consequences with rural participatory assessment (Case study: Gachi villages of Ilam’s Malekshahi County)

The purpose of this study is to identify the problems and issues of Gachi villages from the perspective of villagers, their awareness of the roots and causes of their problems and also the possible consequences of these problems in the social life of the study area. To achieve this goal, a qualitative method, particularly focus group, semi-structured interviews, and observations has been used. The research field includes the villages of Gachi in Ilam’s Malekshahi county. The collected data have been analysed with the Qualitative content analysis method. The results showed that lack of pasture, grassland destruction, absence of fodder, the severe shortage of drinking water and livestock water, unemployment, low expertise and skills, inadequate roads between villages and the city centre, inadequate roads between farms, deficiency of facilities services and low coverage of mobile phones and the Internet, lack of health services are the main problems identified in the villages of Gachi rural area. The root of many of these problems is the lack of educational, welfare and service infrastructure, lack of health infrastructure, lack of skilled medical personnel to provide health services, drought and drying of springs, negligence of officials, remoteness and lack of access to villages. Poverty, soil erosion and declining quality of agricultural land, aggravation of illiteracy, migration to the city, the spread of theft, interpersonal strife and sectarian strife, weakening family ties, stress, aggression and increased violence, etc. are the most important consequences of the existing problems that have intensified social, economic, natural and psychological damage in Gachi village