نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
In many rural areas of developing countries, agriculture alone is no longer sufficient to provide sustainable employment, making economic diversification a key strategy for rural development. Expanding non-agricultural activities, particularly rural industries, can reduce income disparities between urban and rural areas and contribute to population retention in rural regions. This study aims to examine the role of rural handicrafts and wood-based industries- specifically the manufacturing of wooden household appliances and furniture- in diversifying the rural economy of Dahmala Rural District in Shahrood County. The research is applied in nature and employs a descriptive–analytical methodology. The statistical population consists of 632 rural households, from which 214 households were selected using Cochran’s formula and surveyed through simple random sampling. The questionnaire’s validity was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.781. Data were analyzed using one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and the Kruskal–Wallis test. The findings indicate that the establishment and expansion of small-scale wood-based rural industries have had a significant positive impact on key indicators of rural economic diversification. These impacts are most evident in increasing non-agricultural incomes, expanding employment opportunities, and enhancing economic risk-taking among rural households. Furthermore, spatial analysis reveals statistically significant differences among the sample villages in terms of benefiting from the development of wood-related industries. Overall, the study highlights the important role of rural handicrafts and wood industries as effective mechanisms for promoting economic diversification and sustainable rural development.
کلیدواژهها English
