A Study of Consequences, Effects, Challenges and Opportunities for Non-Agricultural Jobs in Rural Areas based on Grounded Theory Approach (Case study: Komijan City, Vafs District)

جغرافیاوتوسعه ناحیه ای

Article 3, Volume 22, Issue 3 - Serial Number 48, September 2024, Pages 63-97   

Document Type: Research

DOI: 10.22067/jgrd.2024.80413.1229

Authors

Hossein Farahani¹; Hamed Ghahrani Bozcheloei^{* 2}; Akbar Hosseinzadeh³

¹Associate Professor in Geography & Rural Planning, Department of Geography, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

²MA in Geography and Rural Planning, Department of Geography,University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

³PhD in Geography and Rural Planning, Department of Geography, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

In the last 50 years, there have been major changes in how rural development is conceptualized, and greater attention to sustainable rural livelihoods has been proposed in developing countries to alleviate rural poverty. Currently, many planners posit that the movement of the rural economy towards diverse activities other than agriculture is the driving force of rural growth. This research aimed to explain the challenges and obstacles to off-farm employment in rural areas from a grounded theory approach. This is an applied study that is descriptive-analytical in nature. Data collection was conducted through library study and field surveys including interview and observation tools. Data analysis was conducted qualitatively using Maxqda software. The statistical population consists of 20 people employed in off-farm jobs (industry, services, and tourism) residing in 4 villages of Samqavar, Vafs, Amreh, and Fathabad. The respondents, who were either selected or recommended, had similar characteristics. The interview with each participant lasted 15 minutes on average because the interview process was flexible and depending on the flow of the discussion, its duration varied. According to the findings, growing prices and the difficulty of procuring raw materials and parts gained the highest score among Obstacles (25.8%). The constant need for products in the market (27.1%) among advantages, the availability of company products with a lower price in the market (16.7%) among threats and the decreasing price of currency, raw materials and spare parts (14.7%) among opportunities obtained the highest score. In the end, the paradigmatic model of activities in the agricultural jobs of the villagers is explained and its causes and conditions, concepts, and consequences are explored.
 
 

Keywords

Sustainable Development; Livelihood; Non-agricultural Economy; Komijan

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