Evaluating of Factors Inhibiting the Activity of Nomadic Cooperatives in Fars Province: Solutions for Rural-Nomadic Development of the Region

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Madineh Khosrowjerdi ¹

Mehdi Nooripoor ²

Ayatollah Karami ²

Saeid Salehi ³

Maryam Afereydouni ²

¹ Nomads' Affairs Organization, Mehr & Lamerd, Iran.

² Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.

³ Nomads' Affairs Organizaion, Shiraz, Iran.

10.22067/jrrp.v15i3.2606-1171

Abstract

Purpose- This study aimed to evaluate the factors inhibiting the performance of nomadic cooperatives in Fars Province, Iran, and to identify the major barriers affecting their effectiveness using a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach.
Design/methodology/approach- The research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 members of nomadic cooperatives selected through snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interview data yielded 62 initial concepts, which formed the basis for developing a researcher-made questionnaire. In the quantitative phase, data were collected from 380 cooperative members selected through simple random sampling. The questionnaire consisted of respondents’ demographic characteristics and items measuring the identified barriers using a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in SPSS.
Findings- Exploratory factor analysis identified 11 principal factors with eigenvalues greater than one, explaining 86.19% of the total variance in barriers to the performance of nomadic cooperatives. Economic barriers accounted for the largest share of explained variance, followed by educational and knowledge, managerial, legal–political, organizational, social, cultural, skills, market and marketing, infrastructural, and ecological barriers. Key challenges included limited financial resources, inadequate access to credit, weak managerial capacity, insufficient training, administrative complexity, low member participation, poor marketing systems, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental constraints such as drought and water scarcity.
Research limitations/implications- The study focused exclusively on nomadic cooperatives in Fars Province, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research is recommended to examine cooperatives in other regions using comparative and longitudinal approaches.
Originality/value- While previous studies have mainly focused on rural cooperatives, limited attention has been given to nomadic cooperatives in Iran. By integrating qualitative exploration with quantitative validation, this study provides a comprehensive framework for identifying and prioritizing the barriers affecting nomadic cooperatives. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers and cooperative managers to strengthen financial support, managerial capacity, education, infrastructure, and institutional policies, thereby enhancing the sustainability of nomadic cooperatives and contributing to rural–nomadic development.

Keywords

Inhibiting Factors

Nomadic Cooperatives

Mixed Research Methods

Fars Province

Subjects

• Rural Studies

---

References

1 Abdolmaleki, M. (2015). Preventive factors to found walnut production cooperatives in Tuyserkan township, Iran. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 5(1): 9-17. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.262489

2. Ansari-Renani, H. (2016). An investigation of organic sheep and goat production by nomad pastoralists in southern Iran. Research, Policy and Practice, 6(8), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-016-0056-y

3.  Ashley, C. and Maxwell, S. (2001). Rethinking rural development. Development Policy Review, 19(4), 395–425. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7679.00141

4.  Ataei, P. & Izadi, N. (2015). Factors Affecting Rural Cooperatives Losses (A Case Study: Amirkabir Rural Cooperative in Fars Province). Iranian Agricultural Extension and education sciences, 11(1), 181-196. http://www.iaeej.ir/article_13615_bd92cc66f4923ae10fc0537ed937aac3.pdf

5. Ataei, P. & Zamani Miandashti, N. (2011). The role of women’s cooperatives in empowerment of their members. Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 42(3), 433–444. http://journals.ut.ac.ir/page/article-frame.html?articleId=883890

6. Baldacchino, P. J., Gatt, E. M., & Grima, S. (2018). Analysing the barriers to the development of Maltese cooperatives. In Governance and Regulations’ Contemporary Issues (pp. 55-92). Emerald Publishing Limited.  https://doi.org/10.1108/S1569-375920180000099004

7. Barati, A. A., Kalantari, K., Nazari, M. R. & Asadi, A. (2017). A hybrid method (ANP-SWOT) to formulate and choose strategic alternatives for development of rural cooperatives in Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 19(4), 757-769. https://doi.org/20.1001.1.16807073.2017.19.4.14.5

8. Baseri, B., Sadeghi, H., & Khaksar, G. (2010). Performance of producer cooperatives in Iran’s agriculture sector. The Economic Research, 10(3), 1-24.http://ecor.modares.ac.ir/article-18-10405-fa.html

9. Behi, F., Mousavi, S. A., & Rashedzadeh, A. (2026). Investigating the Impact of Economic, Social-cultural, Environmental and Spatial Factors on Return Migration in Rural Areas (Case Study: Bandar Khamir County). Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 14(4), 81-100.‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.22067/jrrp.v14i4.2511-1153

10. Brandão, j. & Breitenbach, R. (2019). What are the main problems in the management of rural cooperatives in Southern Brazil?, Land Use Policy, 85, 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.03.047

11. Bretos, I., & Marcuello, C. (2017). Revisiting globalization challenges and opportunities in the development of cooperatives.  Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 88(1), 47-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/apce.12145

12. Dawadi, S., Shrestha, S., & Giri, R. A. (2021). Mixed-methods research: A discussion on its types, challenges, and criticisms. Journal of Practical Studies in Education, 2(2), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.46809/jpse.v2i2.20

13. Harisudin, M., Adi, R. K., & Pratama, N. A. K. (2020). Performance improvement strategies based on balanced scorecard for rural cooperative: the case of Indonesia. International Journal of Trade and Global Markets. 13(2), 161-181. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTGM.2020.106757

14. Hesam, M., & Mahmodi, H. (2024). Identifying obstacles to the establishment and development of rural cooperatives in Gilan province. Quarterly Journal of Rural Research, https://doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2024.377524.1956

15. Jafari, M. H. (2013). Factors affecting the empowerment of nomadic cooperatives in South Khorasan Province. Master's thesis in Agricultural Engineering, Rural Development, supervisor, Dr. Mohammad Reza Bakhshi. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand.

16. Jagger, P., Luckert, M. K., Banana, A. & Bahati, J. (2012). Asking questions to understand rural livelihoods: Comparing disaggregated vs. aggregated approaches to household livelihood questionnaires. World Development, 40(9), 1810–1823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.04.030

17. Lanzi, D. (2023). Cooperatives and the capabilities of the poor. Journal of Management and Science, 13(3), 49-54.‏ DOI: https://doi.org/10.26524/jms.13.34

18.Leakey, R. R. B. (2017). Trees: Delivering productive and sustainable farming systems: An update. Multifunctional Agriculture: Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa; Leakey, RRB, Ed, 389-391. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805356-0.00038-6

19. Maksimova, T. P., Bondarenko, T. G., Zhdanova, O. A., & Harutyunyan, G. H. (2020). Developmental factors of agricultural consumer credit cooperatives as an alternative financial institute for Russian agroindustrial complex. Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, 20 (3), 353-360. ISSN 2284-7995, E-ISSN 2285-3952

20.    Mangoejane, T. P., & Christian, M. (2025). An Entrepreneurship Framework for Improved Productivity and Financial Performance of Primary Agricultural Cooperatives in North West Province. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 53(1), 139-168.‏ https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2025/v53n1a18425

21. Mhembwe, S., & Dube, E. (2017). The role of cooperatives in sustaining the livelihoods of rural communities: The case of rural cooperatives in Shurugwi District, Zimbabwe.  Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 9(1), 1-9. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-725773b67

22. Moahammadi, S., & Nasrollahizadeh, B. (2021). Structural Analysis of Drivers affecting the Livelihood Sustainability of Villagers, with an Emphasis on Future Studies (Case Study: Marivan County). Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 10(35), 1-19. ‏‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.22067/jrrp.v10i4.86356

23. Najafi, M., Nouri, H., & Amini, A. M. (2024). Comparative analysis of the effects of managerial and performance dimensions of rural producers’ cooperatives in iran. Sage Open, 14(4), 21582440241304428.‏ https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244024130442

24. Pakrah, M., Poorhashemi, S. A. and Parvin, M. R. (2020). Investigation and determination of the best strategy for sustainable development of nomadic areas of Iran based on the rights of local societies. Eur Asian Journal of BioSciences, (14), 955-966. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3588392

25. Paudel, R. C., & Acharya, C. P. (2022). Cooperatives and economic growth in a developing country: The case of Nepal. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics. 93(3), 797-815. https://doi.org/10.1111/apce.12323

26. Reyes, J. C., & Harnecker, C. P. (2013). An introduction to cooperatives. In Cooperatives and socialism: A view from Cuba (pp. 25-45). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137277756_2

27. Rezaei, N., Nabi, R. N., & Mohammadzadeh, R. (2025). Investigating the Role of Livestock Products Production in the Spatial Organization of Houses in the Historical Village of Liqvan, Iran. Journal of Research & Rural Planning, 14(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.22067/jrrp.v14i1.2412-1119

28. Ruiz, J. & Domon, G. (2012). Relationships between rural inhabitants and their landscapes in areas of intensive agricultural use: A case study in Quebec (Canada). Journal of Rural Studies, 28(4), 590–602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2012.09.005

29. Samian, M., Saadi, H., Asadi, M., Mirzaei, k., Ansari, E., Ahmadihagh, E. & Soleymani, A. (2017). The role of fishing cooperatives on social – Economic and cultural development of rural areas of Bord Khun city of Bushehr, Iran. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, (16), 178-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2015.06.001

30. Scholz, T., & Calzada, I. (2021). Data cooperatives for pandemic times. In Public Seminar. The New School.

31. Sebhatu, K. T., Gezahegn, T. W., Berhanu, T., Maertens, M., Van Passel, S., & D’Haese, M. (2020). Conflict, fraud, and distrust in Ethiopian agricultural cooperatives. Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, 8(1), 100106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcom.2020.100106

32. Shaturaev, J. (2021). indonesia: superior policies and management for better education (Community development through Education).  Архив научных исследований, 1(1). https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3859-2526

33. Shekari, F., Ziaee, M., Faghihi, A., & Jomehpour, M. (2022). Nomadic livelihood resilience through tourism.  Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 3(1), 100034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annale.2022.100034

34. Ton, G., Haddad, N. O., Bijman, J., Sraïri, M., & Mshenga, P. (2016). Organizational challenges and the institutional environment: A comparative analysis of dairy cooperatives in Kenya and Morocco (No. 2016-088). Wageningen University & Research. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6672e.pdf

35. Zasada, I., & Piorr, A. (2015). The role of local framework conditions for the adoption of rural development policy: An example of diversification, tourism development and village renewal in Brandenburg, Germany. Ecological Indicators, (59), 82–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.02.002

36.Zhu, Q., Wachenheim, C. J., Ma, Z., & Zhu, C. (2018). Supply chain re-engineering: a case study of the Tonghui Agricultural Cooperative in Inner Mongolia. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 21. https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2016.0095