Investigation of the Potentials and Obstacles for Diversifying Livelihood Leading to Sustainable Rural Development (Case Study: Rezvanshahr County)

Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Also, in most development programs, agriculture is considered as the only source of economic thriving in villages. The rural areas at this county possess various capabilities in different economic sections, which have not, to this moment, played a significant role in regional development plans. This situation has led to higher number of migrations to large cities, reduced number of productive labor force, the converting of rural regions into dormitory residences, and the weakening of the economic function of rural areas. Since the economy of the rural residences of Rezvanshahr County is solely based on agriculture and such an economic structure is highly vulnerable to a wide range of external factors, the current economic system of these villages has to be transformed. Accordingly, diversification of livelihood seems to be a suitable solution for this problem. Hence, the current study aims to identify the obstacles and potentials of diversifying livelihood in the villages of Rezvanshahr County, Iran. More specifically, this study aims to address the following research question: what are the potentials and limitations of Rezvanshahr County, as a geographical area, for diversifying livelihood?
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The downward trend of economic conditions in villages, the increasing number of migrations to larger cities, spread of poverty and unemployment, lack of nutritional security, placement of the majority of rural population in suburban areas, etc. indicate that the major objectives of development (e.g. sustainable increase in income levels, expansion of manufacturing employments and more balanced distribution of profits resulting from growth in rural regions) have failed substantially. Therefore, sustainable livelihood is one of the key dimensions of the sustainable rural development paradigm in which attention to livelihood and its transformation, as well as ways for overcoming its challenges are considered as the most critical dimensions of reducing rural poverty and nourishing rural development. In this regard, offering sustainable livelihood strategies is a new solution in development theories for empowerment and capacity building in rural areas in order to convert the current life style into an ideal one. In fact, it is considered as a major tool for reaching sustainable development. The sustainable livelihood approach has been derived from the general rural development theory. Rural development theory has itself passed three main intellectual bodies since the middle of the 20th century, namely the population and technology model, agricultural development and political economy theories. Within this pattern, livelihood sustainability and economic security in rural areas are of utmost importance.
3. METHODOLOGY
The current study is functional in its aims and has been conducted through a descriptive-analytical research method. The sample population of this study consisted of 14 rural areas of 4 types (mountainous, plain, sub-montane, and coastal) within Rezvanshahr County, comprising 4202 families (14664 individuals). Cochran’s sample size formula was used to select 232 families from among the population. In order to gain the necessary data, thereby assessing the hypothesis as well as the variables under study, the researchers employed document and survey methods. The collected data were analyzed using Excel and Spss softwares. The main instrument of data collection was the Household questionnaire.
4. DISCUSSION
In order to investigate the role of infrastructural-institutional variables, environmental factors, social factors and economic factors in the lack of diversification of rural livelihood, stepwise multiple regression was run on the data. Infrastructural-institutional factors were identified as the main obstacle resulting in the lack of diversification of rural livelihood in Rezvanshahr County. The Beta coefficient of this factor was found to be 0.721, which was identified through 17 criteria. The economic factor was found to be the 2nd influential factor in the lack of diversification of rural livelihood (β=0.554), while environmental and social factors came out as the 3rd and 4th influential factors in the regression model. In order to evaluate the role of capabilities in diversifying rural livelihood from the viewpoint of residences in the villages under study, a number of factors and variables were provided for the environmental, economic, and social-cultural dimensions. Environmental factors were the main identified factors for diversifying rural livelihood in Rezvanshahr County (β=0.447), while economic factors (β=0.236) and social-cultural factors (β=0.119) had the lowest impact on the pre-mentioned variable.
5. CONCLUSION
Single-product economy (mostly rice cultivation) with low efficiency and traditional agricultural methods is the mutual characteristic of all 4 types of rural residences in Rezvanshahr County. The net income of families working in the agricultural sector is significantly lower than those who work in non-agricultural sectors. The other important factor which hinders the diversification of livelihood in this area is the lack of public and private financial investments, long-term bank facilities, sufficient motivation as well as necessary skills to create new jobs. Therefore, recognizing environmental potentials and optimal utilization of these potentials would significantly increase employment rates, followed by a potential improvement in the income level of families and the economic development of villages. Since the main obstacles and potentials for diversifying livelihood have been identified in this study, a well-organized long-term plan accompanied by diversification of the jobs at the rural areas of this county would lead to lower rates of unemployment, higher income levels, increased levels of the quality of life index, and lower rates of migration from villages to large cities. Combined together, these changes would result in the sustainability of rural residences in Rezvanshahr County.