Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Nomads' Affairs Organization, Mehr & Lamerd, Iran.
2
Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.
3
Nomads' Affairs Organizaion, Shiraz, Iran.
10.22067/jrrp.2026.99606.1171
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.
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