Search

Rural women's contribution to reacting to climate change is highly significant but has been largely marginalized due to gender roles. This gender discrimination makes them more vulnerable to a variety of threats. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the behaviour of female rice farmers in Mazandaran Province, in northern Iran, toward climate change adaptation using protection motivation theory (PMT). 173 female heads of households' rice farmers in Mazandaran Province were selected through stratified random sampling. According to the findings, the perceived vulnerability (β = 0.19), perceived severity (β = 0.33), self-efficacy (β = 0.4), and response effectiveness (β = 0.35) of female rice farmers have a positive and noticeable effect on responding behaviour to climate change. However, the response costs (β = −0.61) have a negative but noticeable effect on their adaptation behaviour toward changing climate. Research findings also show that climate change severely damages the physical capital of women paddy farmers. The damage caused by these climate crises has a greater impact on the production capacity, product quality, production costs and food security of female heads of households. The findings of this study will help define patterns determining the adaptation of women to climate change, and public and private sector's strategic planning and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the change in soil organic carbon (SOC), soil labile carbon (C), soil total nitrogen (N), particulate organic carbon (POC), mineralizable soil C (Min‐C) in soil aggregate fractions, and soil particles size at 0–30 cm soil depth of the semi‐steppe rangelands in Central Iran (Sheida and Khargosh regions). The study used a fully randomized design with four land uses in the rangelands including covered with rainfed wheat (CR0), abandoned rangelands (ARs) for 5–15 years (AR15), abandoned rangeland for 16–40 years (AR40), and permanently uncultivated rangelands (UR) as the reference sites that were replicated three times (n = 3) with at most 2 km distance from each other in an area of 25 ha. For each treatment, the soil samples were randomly obtained at 0–30 cm soil depth in three replicated plots of 2 × 2 m using a core size of 7 cm in diameter. The samples were mixed to take a composite soil sample (12 soil samples in each region) in June 2018. The results indicated that soil POC is the most sensitive fraction for the identification of shifts in the total SOC after the cultivation cessation because by increasing the abandoned land and the cessation of cropland activities, the POC has also increased. In conclusion, after the cessation of rainfed cropping and the recovery of natural vegetation, the increases in soil microorganism activity can result in a higher nutrient cycling in the degraded rangeland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge about climate change that makes adaptability necessary by coping strategies leads to the sustainability of nomadic livelihoods. This paper proposed a new adaptability approach, an association coping strategy (ACS), which is established based on the association rulesʼ recommendations. The adaptability was empirically analyzed using 12 coping strategies used by Kashkooli nomads in Sepidan plain, Fars province, Iran. Required data were gathered both in the form of time series from November 1988 to February 2020 and cross section during June–July 2019. Household perceptions of climatic and environmental variables, supported by meteorological data, revealed that climate change was negatively impacting the Kashkooli nomadic livelihood in Sepidan plain. The findings also indicated that taking simultaneous coping strategies resulted in selling livestock surplus, saving water consumption, livestock insurance, rangeland regeneration schemes, and immigration to more suitable rangelands. Therefore, Kashkooli nomadic livelihood survived climate changes using ACSs. The association rules were useful for recommending anticipatory coping strategies that were adopted based on indigenous knowledge about climate change by nomads to establish appropriate adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting a qualitative approach, this study performs a gender analysis of the climate change effects on rice farmers' adaptation strategies (AS) in Mazandaran Province (northern Iran) based on the sustainable livelihood approach. For this purpose, 36 male and female heads of households in Arab Mahalla and Qajar Khel villages and 10 heads of households in Kiasar village (in Mazandaran Province) were selected and studied through theoretical and purposeful sampling methods of Corbin and Strauss. These villages have the highest number of female household heads and have been severely affected by the climate crisis in recent years. For the male-headed households (n = 23), the most important climate crisis was drought (f=16), and for the female-headed households (n = 23), drought, cold, and early off-season frost and monsoon storms were the most important (f=13). The results also indicated that in climatic crises, human (X̅=12.35) and social (X̅=13) capital from the women's perspective and financial (X̅=12.5) and physical (X̅=13) capital from the men's perspective had the highest vulnerability percentages whereas natural capital was equally affected from both the men's and women's viewpoints. One of the innovative aspects of this study is the gender analysis of the impact of climate change on the AS of sustainable livelihood framework based on a qualitative approach. This study recommends that beyond increasing the diversity of living amid climate change, deliberate climate change efforts should be directed at women and that fundamental gender discrimination such as prejudices and gender inequality should be eliminated. • This study performed a gender analysis on climate change adaptation strategies. • Female's human and social capital is more vulnerable than male's. • Men's financial and physical capital has the highest importance than women. • Larger-scale socio-political change need to realize the potential benefits for women. • The participation of rural women in social activities and rural cooperatives should be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased demand for fertile lands has resulted from the exponential growth of the world's population in the twenty-first century. This mechanism results in widespread land tenure adjustments in a specific arrangement of rights, partnerships, and structures, which is in direct opposition to the existence of land as a small and necessary asset. While several attempts have been made to clarify land tenure conflicts, and scholars have studied them from different perspectives, there is still a significant gap in our knowledge of land tenure-related conflicts in the agricultural system and their production. As a result, this paper examined 85 pieces of literature (from 2013 to 2021) on the impact of land registration on the link between land tenure and agricultural productivity in Iran and throughout the world. Land tenure arrangements in Iran are evolving as a result of land demand and improvements in agricultural techniques, according to the results. Furthermore, each land tenure scheme can include a variety of land types, each with its own set of rules and patterns for use. The findings showed that further research with a combined locally-set methodology is required to better understand any relationship(s) between land tenure system (LTS) and agricultural production (AP), in addition to highlighting the value of land knowledge updating and the efficiency of local land management institutions. This study concluded that explaining land-related conflicts, mechanisms of power, and legal actions are important steps toward guiding the consequences of the growth of agricultural LTS in Iran, which leads to effective solutions at the area level. • This study identified land registry impact on the relationship between land tenure and agricultural productivity. • The result showed land tenure arrangements are evolving as a result of land demand in agricultural techniques. • The opportunities and limitations posed by tenure rules can form technology acceptance patterns. • The implications of native communities' behavior towards non-indigenous people are important distinctions to consider. • A reform of the communal land tenancy scheme is necessary for long-term farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The aim was to analyze landholders' perceptions of threats and opportunities of conversion of steep land to orchard (CSLO). • Results showed the most landholders in the study area were well-informed of CSLO threats compared to CSLO opportunities. • Reduction of soil erosion and deterioration was the most common perceived opportunities of CSLO. • High perception of CSLO threats makes the landholders less supportive of the CSLO scheme· Policy-makers should establish the landholders' trust in long-term program to achieve successful implementation of CSLO. This survey study aimed to explore landholders' perceptions of possible threats and opportunities of the CSLO scheme in the Chehel-Chay watershed located in Golestan province, Iran. Furthermore, the influence of these perceptions on the intention to adopt the scheme was assessed. For this purpose, 345 landholders were selected through multi-stage sampling, and the data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Results showed that most landholders in the study area were well-informed of CSLO threats rather than CSLO opportunities. For those landholders who cultivate in public land, "the seizure of land ownership by the government" was perceived as the most important threat of CSLO. Furthermore, the contribution of CSLO to the soil erosion mitigation and deterioration was found to be the most frequent perceived opportunity to the CSLO scheme. Based on the findings, the importance of uncertain future costs of implementing CSLO in the rapidly changing Minodasht County should not be ignored by policymakers. This study demonstrated the importance of examining both positive and negative perceptions of landholders about the opportunities and threats of the CSLO scheme. The study concluded that land use policymakers should take into account that the implementation of CSLO has positively contributed to landholders' perception. In other words, the landholders are willing to adopt the scheme. Therefore, policymakers should consider the importance of establishing the landholders' trust in long-term programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study aimed to compare agricultural sustainability with and without land leveling and consolidation plans. • Results showed that in leveled and consolidated lands, the sustainability status of the ecological dimension is "good". • The sustainability status of the social and economic dimensions is "moderate". • The net present value of agricultural activities' revenues is higher in leveled and consolidated lands. • Agricultural activities in leveled and consolidated lands have a better status in terms of sustainability. In recent years, sustainability has always been one of the most important approaches in policy making and program development in general, especially in the agricultural sector. On the other hand, land leveling and consolidation programs are usually implemented as the development programs of the agricultural sector in different regions of Iran. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the agricultural sustainability in two different regions (with and without land leveling and consolidation) in Zarghan District, Fars Province, Iran. In this research, a quantitative research approach has been used, and data were collected in two phases using a researcher-made questionnaire. The results of the first phase of the study showed that in the leveled and consolidated lands, the ecological dimension is potentially in a good status of sustainability, but social and economic dimensions are in a moderate status. In the unleveled and unconsolidated lands, the ecological dimension is potentially in a good status, while the social dimension is in a moderate, and economic dimensions are in a potentially weak status of sustainability. In addition, comparing the results of the two groups of lands demonstrated that there is a significant difference between them in terms of ecological and economic sustainability, and in consolidated and leveled lands, ecological and economic sustainability are in a more favorable status. Furthermore, the results of the second phase of the research indicated that agricultural activities in both categories of land are beneficial. However, the net present value of agricultural activities revenues in the leveled and consolidated lands is higher than those of the areas outside the coverage of this plan. Therefore, it can be concluded that agricultural activities in leveled and consolidated lands, not only have a better status in terms of sustainability but also have a higher economic justification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is expected to adversely affect agricultural production, particularly in Iran where the agricultural sector forms the backbone of the economy. This is true for the agriculture sector of the southwest region of Iran which is largely rain-fed and dominated by smallholder farmers with minimal livelihood alternatives. Although several studies have been conducted on climate change, little has been done on the adaptive capacity of farmers within farming systems, especially in Iran. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the adaptive capacity of four common farming systems (i.e., family farming system, cooperative farming system, commercialized farming system, and agro-enterprise farming system) in Fars province, southwestern Iran. A seven-step approach was used to normalize, weigh, and aggregate 102 individual indicators within a composite adaptive capacity index that is dimensionless, ranging from 0 to 1, and 1 is the optimal value. The required data were collected using a cross-sectional survey from 1472 farmers within the four mentioned farming systems. The results showed that the highest value was recorded by agro-enterprise for knowledge, perception and awareness, transport and physical accessibility, and institution and economic resources. Agro-enterprise scored higher in terms of awareness and action, which shows that these farming systems have a higher capacity for adaptation to the threat posed by climate diversity. Farmers in this farming system benefit from high formal education, high perceptions about the threat and risk of climate change, the occurrence of climatic events, causes for the change in climatic parameters, and awareness of climate change impacts. This paper recommends resilience-building interventions in the study area, which target individuals with low adaptive capacities, especially farmers. The results can also assist agricultural policymakers to recognize which components and determinants of adaptive capacity should be prioritized to mitigate the threat of climate change to farming systems. [Display omitted] • This study aimed to investigate the adaptive capacity of common agricultural systems • Climate change has a negative impact on Iran's agricultural production systems • The results showed that farmers at agro-enterprises have a well awareness of climate change adaptation • It is essential to obtain information about potential, effective, and cost-effective adaptation options [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important dimensions of cooperative systems, which have existed in Iran since 1974, is cooperative rural production enterprises. In this study, the performance of rural production cooperatives in Iran is examined in relation to the social capital components of the members. This study's statistical population consisted of 16,870 members from 41 cooperatives. 217 samples of cooperative members and 98 samples of the cooperative's management and board of directors were selected using the Cochran formula, and questionnaires were filled out for each group. The results showed that from the viewpoint of the members of rural cooperatives, the most important factor in improving the performance of cooperatives was the use of effective extension training (model-extension sites). The results also showed that members' satisfaction and training members of cooperatives can play an important role in improving the performance of cooperatives. The results of this research, while emphasizing the role of education (especially extension activities), can help rural development planners in improving the performance of rural cooperatives in their regions. [Display omitted] • The study identified the impacts of social capitals on the performance of rural production cooperatives. • The most important factor in improving the performance was the use the extension trainings. • Members' satisfaction and training play an important role in improving the performance. • The level of education in production cooperatives has a direct relationship with trust and satisfaction. • Cooperatives do not perform well in the fields of sales, marketing and insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran is currently suffering from a severe water shortage. Frequent droughts, along with over-abstraction of surface and groundwater, have pushed the country's water situation to crisis levels. To deal with this issue, changing the cultivation pattern has been suggested. The planners stated that other environmental objectives would be achieved by implementing changes to the cultivation pattern along with reducing water consumption. Concerning this issue, the present study aimed to identify the optimal water-saving cultivation pattern in the field cropping's subsector in Qazvin province. This province is particularly important in the production of field cropping, which has caused the groundwater level to drop. Therefore, 246 farmers were selected using a simple two-stage random sampling method, and the information was collected in 2019. According to the experts' ideas, a 15% increase in gross profit, a 10% decrease in agricultural water consumption, job stability, and a 15% decrease in chemical fertilizers and pesticides were considered the optimal goals. The findings showed that through the optimal allocation of the inputs to Low Water-Demand (LWD) and High Water-Demand (HWD) crops, the farmers could not only save water and different types of fertilizers and pesticides but also achieve their objectives in terms of their desired profit. Therefore, designing a system of allocation and distribution, establishing a standardization system, and monitoring and controlling farmers' behavior concerning the use of inputs can achieve the goal concerning farmers' income and goals for protecting water resources and the environment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-management requires two or more organizations that collectively manage natural capital. This study aimed to explore the function of social capital in the cycle of establishing co-management in southeastern Iranian rural communities (who participated in the Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land (RFLDL) project). Since measuring social capital is important and difficult, and one of the most promising and accurate methods for evaluating this capital is Social Network Analysis (SNA), it has been used as a research method in this research. The results showed an increase in the observed network characteristics of the RFLDL data, which indicates the positive effect of the social mobilization in RFLDL on bonding social capital. In addition, it suggested that the assessment of the success of community based natural resource governance solely based on a relational perspective of social capital is too narrow. Especially, traditional forms of community organization are not taken into account explicitly. Therefore, more research needs to be undertaken on how to incorporate differences in cultural organizations, traditional knowledge, and practices into the perspective of community empowerment. • The main aim was to investigate and analyze the role of intra-group social capital through social network analysis (SNA). • SNA contributed to assessing the changes in reciprocity and transitivity scores in terms of trust and collaboration network. • Results show that there is a high correlation between trust and participation of people in social network. • Stronger trusted relations between the committees promoted sustainable rural growth and collaboration. • Achieving to a lower natural resource demand than population growth can relieve pressure on these resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research used a qualitative and quantitative approach to classify factors influencing wheat farmers' social, economic, and environmental vulnerability in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran, from the perspective of elite wheat farmers and agricultural specialists, and then to establish some recommendations based on the results. To achieve the study objectives, in the qualitative part, in-depth interviews were held with 20 agricultural specialists in the field of wheat cultivation, and 9 elite wheat farmers were selected using a purposive sampling method. Using stratified random sampling, 391 wheat farmers participated in the quantitative part. From the agricultural specialists' viewpoint, the prime factor affecting vulnerability was the social factor "farm management". The second factor was the environmental vulnerability factor "Sunn pest and heat", and the final factor was the economic vulnerability factor "the costs of fertilizer, equipment, and machines and their maintenance". In contrast, from the viewpoint of elite wheat farmers, the dominant factor affecting vulnerability was the economic factor "the costs of equipment, fertilizer, and machines and their maintenance". Regarding social vulnerability, "Governmental support" was stressed and the most important environmental vulnerability factor was "Sunn pest and cold". The results of confirmatory factor analysis were more in line with the views of agricultural specialists. According to the results, it is suggested that the agricultural extension system provides timely training to farmers in order to properly manage farms in times of crisis. The government should also compensate part of the costs of social and economic damage to farmers by providing free or low-interest loans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)