Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Depatment of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

2 MSc, Depatment of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Depatment of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

4 Ph.D. Depatment of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

10.22092/ijrdr.2023.130617

Abstract

Background and objectives
Rangelands provides a wide range of products and services to local communities. In the discussion of rangeland management, it is necessary to note that the monoculture economy is fragile. As long as only attention is paid to rangeland forage for livestock feeding, the users' economy will be very shaky and fragile. Therefore, increasing income, economic stability of rangeland users, creating employment, and sustainable development require multipurpose management and utilization of existing resources. The present research evaluates the relative advantage of various exploitation methods of local communities in the summer rangelands of Hazarjarib Behshahr during 2018-2019.
 
Methodology
In terms of purpose, the research is applied, and regarding the research method, it is classified as descriptive-survey research. It is also a quantitative study, given the nature of the data. The statistical population included all users of the customary summer rangelands of Boznesam, Tirperu, Hashtpader, Mianband, Hajikord, Sefidkhani, Siahkhani, Zereshki, and Shaharam. The research tool is a researcher-made questionnaire whose face validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Its reliability was calculated between 0.78 and 0.86 for different components based on Cronbach's Alpha formula. Using the census method, 85 people were distributed. After collecting the data and analyzing the questionnaires, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, T-test, and LSD were applied in SPSS software version 24 to answer the research hypotheses. Therefore, a questionnaire was developed in several sections. The first part was related to demographic information, and the second was related to the cost and income of each of the main rangeland users, including animal husbandry, beekeeping, agronomy, medicinal plants, and integrated (multi-purpose) operations. The validity of the questionnaire content was determined using the formal validation method and consulting experts. The priority of usefulness of single subsistence activities and other multi-purpose exploitations was determined using analysis of the income-cost ratio (B/C).
 
Results
The results showed that the highest and lowest annual net income from livestock and medicinal plant activities was estimated at 191.1 and 2.3 million Tomans per household (user), respectively. The highest and lowest net profits in multi-activity were estimated at 29.7 and 6.9 million Tomans per household (user), respectively, related to the activities of agronomy-livestock-medicinal plants and agronomy-medicinal plants. The ratio of B/C of all livelihood activities is more than one and economical. In single livelihood activities, beekeeping, with a ratio of 3.7, and multiple livelihoods, agronomy-medicinal plants, with a ratio of 3.1, have the highest income generated about the share of livelihood resources compared to other exploitations. The results showed that livelihood diversity could generate more income for users. The analysis of the annual net income share of mono-livelihood and multi-livelihood operations as a percentage of the total income of the livelihood resources of the operators in the region showed that in the case of optimal use and better management of animal husbandry along with the sub-operations of beekeeping, medicinal plants, and agronomy can provide good income and employment among people. Statistics have rejected the assumption that single-subsistence and multi-subsistence exploitations have the same income.
 
Conclusion
Beekeeping and agronomy are among the potential exploitations of the studied rangelands. These exploitations can be combined with livestock farming to compensate for livestock farming shortcomings, both to prevent livestock pressure on rangelands and to increase local communities' income. Therefore, by implementing combined rangeland projects, it is possible to maintain and restore rangelands and increase income for local beneficiaries. Because for many years, the use of rangelands in the study area has been single-purpose and only for providing animal fodder, multi-purpose use according to the capacities of each rangeland can bring many benefits to the users. Also, the high benefit-to-cost ratio of beekeeping can be a strategy for the employment of more people in the region after animal husbandry, to prevent pressure on the rangelands by animal husbandry, and to increase the income of local communities.

Keywords

  • Adak, N., Arzani, H. and Heshmatolvaezin, S.M., 2018. The roles of beekeeping in increasing the income of range manager (Case Study: Zhiwar village in Kurdistan). Journal of range and watershed management (Iranian Journal of natural resources), 71(1): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrwm.2018.108759.775 (In Persian).
  • Ahmadi Getab, H., 2018. Financial analysis of animal husbandry activity in the traditional animal husbandry system based on the pasture area and strategies to strengthen the financial base of the beneficiaries (Case study: Sejaroud Babol watershed). MSc thesis in rangeland management, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran, 100 p. (In Persian).
  • Alobo Loison, S., 2019. Household livelihood diversification and gender: panel evidence from rural Kenya. Journal of Rural studies, 69: 156-172. https://doi.org/1016/j.jrurstud.2019.03.001
  • Arzani, H. and Motamedi, J., 2019. Reducing pressure on rangelands through economicization of rangeland management. Iran's nature, 4(2): 7-14. https://doi.org/22092/irn.2019.119033 (In Persian).
  • Asfaw, S., Pallante, G. and Palma, A., 2018. Diversification strategies and adaptation deficit: Evidence from rural communities in Niger. World Development, 101: 219-234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.09.004
  • Bahjo, F. and Ghanbari, S., 2019. Economic evaluation of by-products of Ardabil hazelnut forests (hazel fruit production) and its role in household economy. Iran Forest Ecology, 5(9): 56-62. https://doi.org/29252/ifej.5.9.56 (In Persian).
  • Eftekhari, A.R., Musavi, S.M., Pourtaheri, M. and Farrokhzade Asl, M., 2014. Analysis of the role of livelihood diversity to rural household resilence in drought condition. Case study of drought exposed areas of Isfahan province. Journal of rural research. 5(3): 639-662 (In Persian).
  • Ellis, F., 2005. Small-Farms, Livelihood Diversification and Rural-Urban Transitions: Strategic Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Paper Prepared for the Research Workshop on “The Future of Small Farms”, Withersdane Conference Centre, Wye, Kent, UK, 26-29 June.
  • Ellis, F. and Freeman, H.A., 2004. Rural livelihoods and poverty reduction strategies in four African countries. Journal of Development Studies, 40(4): 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220380410001673175
  • Ellis, F. and Mode, N., 2003. Livelihoods and Rural Poverty Reduction in Tanzania. World Development, 31(8): 1367-1384.
  • Ghazali, S., Zibaei, M. and Azadi, H., 2023. Impact of livelihood strategies and capitals on rangeland sustainability and nomads' poverty: A counterfactual analysis in Southwest Iran. Ecological Economics, 206, p.107738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107738
  • Hajian, N. and Ghasemi, M., 2022. Strategies for diversification of economic activities in drought-prone rural areas (Case study: Chenaran County). Quarterly Journal of Village and Space Sustainable Development. 3(2): 25-43. https://doi.org/10.22077/vssd.2022.4972.1072 (In Persian).
  • Heidari Zahiri, N., Amirnejad, H. and Hosseini Yekani, S.A., 2015. The economic contribution of forest resources uses to rural livelihoods (Case study: Hezar Jarib area of Behshahr City). Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Resrach, 46 (2): 207-215. https://doi.org/22059/ijaedr.2015.54886 (In Persian).
  • Helmy, I., 2020. Livelihood diversification strategies: resisting vulnerability in Egypt, GLO discussion paper, 441: 1-30.
  • Heshmatol Vaezin, S.M., Barkaoui, A. and Peyron, J.L., 2007. Estimating the value of standing timber on the basis of parcel characteristics-the case of beech in Lorraine prior to the 1999 storms.” French Journal of Forest, LIX, 6: 625-63. https://doi.org/1139/X08-202 (In Persian).
  • https://www.cbi.ir.
  • Jahanifar, K., Amirnejad, H., Abedi, Z. and Vafaeenejad, A., 2017. Economic and environmental feasibility of rangeland conversion to other land uses in East of Mazandaran province, 11(2): 207-221. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20080891.1396.11.2.7.6 (In Persian).
  • Javan, J., Alavizadeh, A.M. and Kermani, M., 2011. The role of diversification of economic activities in sustainable rural development, a case study: Semiram city. Scientific-Research Quarterly of the Iranian Geographical Society, 9(29): 18-43. (In Persian). http://dorl.net/dor/1001.1.22516735.1399.10.37.4.2 (In Persian).
  • Karimi, K. and Karami Dehkordi, E. 2015. Rangeland use and necessity of diversification in livelihoods of rural hoseholds case study: Mahneshan Township, 6(2): 343-368. https://doi.org/22059/jrur.2015.54911 (In Persian).
  • Khakipour, L., Barani, H., Darijani, A. and Kermian, R., 2012. Investigating the share of pasture in livestock income of nomadic households (case study: Hamian watershed). Rangeland journal, 5(4): 430-437. https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2019.119329 (In Persian).
  • Khatoony, N. and Kolahi, M., 2021. Investigation role and function of rangelands on water. Journal of water and sustainable developemnet, 8(2): 91-104. https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v8i2.1004 (In Persian).
  • Koopahi, M., 2009. Introduction to agricultural economics principle. Tehran University press. 467p. (In Persian).
  • Eshaghi Milasi, F., Mahmoud, B. and Yarali, N., 2017. Economic dependence of forest-dwelling households on forest resources in Lordegan city. Iranian Forestry Magazine, Iranian Forestry Association, 9(2): 289-300. (In Persian)
  • Mirdeylmi, Z. and Moradi, A., 2018. Evaluation of the efficiency of Iran's rangeland system in the past half century. Rangeland Journal, 11(4): 405-421. http://dorl.net/dor/1001.1.20080891.1396.11.4.1.4 (In Persian).
  • Mir Mohammad Sadeghi, J., Idris, M.A., and Mostajeran, M., 2007. Factors affecting the income of beekeepers in the cities of Isfahan, Khomeini, Development and exploitation magazine. Shahr and Najaf Abad, 2 (6:) 1-12 (In Persian)
  • Moghimi, J., 2004. Introduction of some important range species appropriate for range improvement in Iran. Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Organization, 670 p. (In Persian)
  • Mohades Hoseini, S.A. and Sadeghi, A., 2018. Cost-benefit analysis of cultivation of medicinal-commercial species in Razavi Khorasan province. Journal of Ecological Agriculture, 8(2). 1-12. (In Persian)
  • Moradi, Gh. H, Mirzaei Doghezlu, S., Ghanbari, S. and Ansari Samani, H., 2021. Dependence of rural livelihood on non-wood forest products in Khosroshirin-Abadeh city. Journal of plant ecosystem protection, 9(18): 287-302. (In Persian)
  • Motamedi, J., Azadi, H., Alijanpour, A., Banj Shafiei, A., Sheidai-Karkaj, E., Mofidi-Chelan, M., Movahhed Moghaddam, S., Van Passel, S. and Witlox, F., 2022. Economic indices of by-products utilization and forage production in semi-arid rangelands. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, pp.1-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2071687 (In Persian).
  • Motiei Langroudi, S.H., Riahi, V., Jalalian, H. and Ahmadi, A., 2018. Analysis of factors affecting the diversification of economic activities from the perspective of villagers (case study: villages of Saqez city). Human Geography Research, 51(1): 193-209. http://dx.doi.org/%2010.22059/jrur.2022.338039.1717 (In Persian).
  • Rastgar, S. and Mojavarian, M., 2015. Evaluation of the economic value of livestock production in the traditional livestock farming system based on pastures (case study: Hazarjarib Behshahr summer pastures). Journal of rangeland, 2(2): 115-130. (In Persian)
  • Riahi, V. and Nouri, A., 2014. Diversification of economic activities and sustainability of villages (case study: Khorramdare city), Journal of Rural Economy and Development, 3(4): 113-128. (In Persian)
  • Sadeghi, M., 2014. Investigation of the effectiveness of pastures on the income of its users in Mashkin area of Ardabil city. MSc, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, 166p. (In Persian)
  • Salesi, M., Nilforoshan, A., Kayani, M. and Abbasian, A. 2004. Investigation of the economic situation of the beekeeping industry in Najaf Abad city, Isfahan. National Animal Science Research Institute, 1-9. (In Persian)
  • Shamsi, M., Khorasani, M.A., and Motiee Langrudi., S.H. 2020. The effects of diversification into economic activities on the welfare of the rural community case study: the central district of Kerman countyJournal of Regional Planning, 10(37): 47-62. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.22516735.1399.10.37.4.2 (In Persian).
  • Sirajuddin, S.N., Hastang Lestari, V.S. and Rosmawaty., 2019. Livestock ecology research on institution and traditional sharing systems in cattle farms, EurAsian. Journal of BioSciences, 13: 239-244.
  • Taghipour, A., 2006. Environmental factors on the distribution of range plants in the Hezar-Jarib area of Behshahr (case study: Sarkhgriveh village). MSc, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 107p. (In Persian)
  • Thadani, R., 2001. International non-timber forest product issues. Journal of sustainable forestry, 13(3/4): 122-135. https://doi.org/10.1300/J091v13n03_02
  • Zakeri, A., Tavali, A. and Toloui, S., 2014. Economic value of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glaobra) in comparison with the income from fodder in the pastures of Tashe Qala region. Journal of Renewable Natural Resources Research, 5(2): 16-26. (In Persian)