Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
2
Forest Rangeland and Watershed Management Department, Sistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Zabol, Iran
Abstract
The predominant occupation of local communities in Sistan has been agriculture. Due to the shortage of water in the Hirmand River, climate change, continued drought, etc., many local communities have lost their jobs. The aim of this study is to examine the most important factors affecting the improvement of sustainable livelihoods from the perspective of farmers, with an emphasis on the local conditions of the region. For this purpose, the impact of variables (economic, social, institutional, environmental, physical, demographic-cultural-migratory factors, livelihood strategies, livelihood sustainability, alternative livelihoods, and personal wells) on sustainable livelihoods was examined using multivariate regression modeling. The results showed that all respondents have a history of agriculture in the region, so the experience and local knowledge of farmers can be used in examining the items. According to the results, all the variables under study have a significant relationship with sustainable livelihoods, the F statistic of 650.861 confirmed the significance of the entire model, and the Durbin-Watson test of 1.92 showed the absence of autocorrelation in the model. The coefficient of determination showed that 85% of the changes in the sustainable livelihood variable are explained by the variables under study. According to the results, by developing variables that lead to the sustainability of sustainable livelihoods, including increasing institutional support, developing social activities, expanding livelihood strategies appropriate to the region, and developing suitable alternative livelihoods, which are the most important factors in improving economic conditions, it is possible to overcome the factors that lead to the instability of sustainable livelihoods.
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