فصلنامه روستا و توسعه
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 1 (پیاپی 93، بهار 1400)

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between personal characteristics and social laziness of rural youth in Ilam province of Iran. The methodology of the study was descriptive-correlational and its statistical population included the rural youth of the province (62786 persons). Based on Krejcie-Morgan table, 370 people were selected and studied using proportional stratified random sampling. The required data were collected through a questionnaire, the validity of which was confirmed by the viewpoints of three faculty members of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Rural Development of Ilam University; and the reliability of the questionnaire was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha (social laziness alpha 86 percent and psychological characteristics alpha 88 percent). The data were analyzed using SPSS-19 software. Correlation coefficient, regression and T and F tests were used for data analysis as well. According to the results of the regression, accountability, neuroticism and residence variables explained 17 percent of social laziness variance. Therefore, it is suggested that to increase the mental health of the community, the University of Medical Sciences and the Welfare Organization of Ilam province set up and increase psychological counseling clinics in the rural areas of the province.

This aimed at examining the socio-economic and feasibility of rice cultivation development with lower consumption of chemical inputs compared to conventional cultivation methods in Mazandaran province of Iran. For this purpose, using the classified random sampling method, 722 users were selected in 2017 out of 12000 users, and necessary data and information were collected by completing the questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was performed in terms of risk variable using Logit multivariate regression. The results showed that low-input rice cultivation led to lower production costs and higher economic profits as well as its environmental and social benefits to society. The results of regression estimation showed that the variables of risk reward, the number of times the Trico card was installed, the use of low-input technology in adjacent lands, the experience of low-input production, participation in promotional classes, and product value per hectare had the most significant positive effect and the area under cultivation in the previous year, age, and the number of land plots had the most significant negative effect on the adoption of low-input rice cultivation. Also, the results showed that by liberalizing the price of chemical inputs, providing natural inputs as subsidies, accelerating land consolidation, educating farmers on the optimal use of agricultural inputs, and with the participation of paddy farmers, the traditional method could be replaced by the low-input rice cultivation.

Planning for sustainable tourism development in the villages, following the increase in tourists in rural areas, is necessary. In this regard, this study aimed at estimating the carrying capacity of the local community towards the development of rural tourism. The data analysis was conducted in a descriptive-analytical method. The statistical population included experts related to the subject of research and residents (local community) of Kandolus Village of Noshahr County in Iran. Method of determining the carrying capacity of the local community was adapted from the Battelle environmental evaluation system frequently used for environmental impact assessment and the limits of acceptable change. Two maps including Barometer of Tourism Sustainability (BTS) and AMOEBA of Tourism Sustainability Indicators (ATSI) were also used to show the level of sustainability of the tourism destination. The study results showed that based on the classification of sustainability barometer of Prescott-Allen and according to the obtained parameter (0.609), the carrying capacity of the local community was relatively stable within the range of 0.61-0.80 category.

Social capital is seen as the cornerstone of the endogenous development of a society in general and rural society in particular. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the canonical correlation between social capital dimensions and sustainability components of pluriactive rice farmers' activity in the Haraz plain watershed of Iran. It was an applied research in terms of purpose and a descriptive-survey study in terms of method. The statistical population of the study included all pluriactive rice farmers in the plain. Due to the lack of proper database, the snowball sampling method was used for sampling; finally, 182 concerned farmers were identified and participated in the study. The results showed that the relationship between the canonical variables of social capital and sustainability of pluriactive rice farmers' activity was 0.41; also, 17 percent of the variance of the sustainability of pluriactive rice farmers' activity was explained by the social capital canonical variable.Therefore, the higher the level of cognitive and structural components among pluriactive rice farmers, the higher the level of ecological, social and economic sustainability.

As indicated by some studies, organizational ethics has a tangible weakness in government departments of Iran. Some experts, with emphasis on macro levels, highlight the macro-economic, social and cultural variables while others, focusing on intermediate and micro levels, tend to point out the intermediate and micro variables affecting organizational ethics. The present study aimed to identify the themes of organizational ethics and design the evaluation model of ethics. The research method used in this study was content analysis and its statistical sample included the faculty members of the university, experts and managers of Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad, purposefully selected and interviewed in a semi-structured method. So, this study aimed mainly at explaining the conceptual model of organizational ethics in the above-mentioned governmental organizations and how to relate model components to each other as well as the effectiveness and evaluation of organizational ethics Based on the study findings, the organizational ethics evaluation indicators were classified into six dimensions of organizational atmosphere, individual ethics, organizational audience, organizational environment, organizational goals, rules and procedures, and organizational structure In addition, the results showed the important role of organizational ethics in carrying out the mission of the Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad and the social responsibility of this government agency in rural development.

By investigating the rural and agricultural financing systems and methods of the selected countries including India, China and Turkey, this study sought to better understand the credit mechanisms implemented by financing institutions in these countries as well as to design a stronger and more efficient financing system for rural financing in the environment of Iran's agricultural financing. Although, the political and economic factors and the geographical and historical heritage factors affect the agricultural sector and consequently, the financing of this sector and make it unique in each country, reviewing the experiences of different countries can usually help to organize the optimal financing system for this sector while clarifying the path. Therefore, by examining the different financial systems of the agricultural sector, a common framework can be achieved in order to achieve the goal of sustainable financing of the agricultural sector. According to the achievements and results of the study of agricultural financing models in selected countries, the financing process designed to improve the agricultural financial system of the country was presented. In this model, an attempt was made to fundamentally reform the structure and methods of lending in the agricultural sector by financial and credit institutions and to create flexibility in lending so that the transaction costs would be reduced and the credit required by farmers could be funded at the right time. In the designed framework, due to the importance of sub-sectors in the value added of the agricultural sector, it seems necessary to identify the activities and services that have the highest priority and also the most delays in repaying facilities to improve the collection of receivables by alternative methods.

Drought, as one of the environmental hazards, has harmful effects on the environment. This study aimed at investigating the drought trends and their effects on the economic, social and environmental situations of the rural settlements of Kurdistan province in Iran. It was conducted in a descriptive-analytical method. The statistical population consisted of 384 household heads of the province. In order to determine the drought status, in the first place, the precipitation over a period of 27 years (1987-2014) was investigated on the basis of Standard Precipitation index (SPI); then, the effects and consequences of droughts were explained in a survey method through a questionnaire. Results of SPI showed that the counties of Ghorveh with 19, Bijar and Sanandaj each one with 17, Saqez and Baneh each one with 16, Zarrineh with 15 and Marivan with 14 years had experienced mild to severe droughts. Factor analysis results indicated that the economic, environmental and social factors could explain 55.03 percent of total variance (22.91 percent for the economic, 17.27 percent for the environmental and 14.85 percent for the social factors); in addition, three variables including decrease in income level with 0.782, decrease in spring water discharge with 0.705 and migration with 0.766 percent had the most drought effects. In order to improve the livelihood and sustainability of the rural settlements, the use of dam water storage, development of horticultural system, training the farmers to diversify the rural occupations and jobs are some of the recommended solutions.