Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Sociology,Institute for Humanities and Social Studies. ACECR, Tehran. Iran.
2 Department of Social Sciences Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
3 Departemant of Social Studies Institue for cultrual, Social and Civilezation Studies. ICSCS. Tehran Iran
4 Department of History and Sociology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
5 Department of Sociology, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
Abstract
Keywords
Main Subjects
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Poverty reduction and sustainable rural livelihoods are key objectives of sustainable rural development. Poverty in rural communities is closely linked to the type of livelihood and livelihood resources available in these communities; livelihood is comprised of the financial and social assets, capabilities, and activities rural enviroment. Sustainable livelihoods are achieved when these capabilities and assets are maintained and improved in the present and future; in a way that does not deplete natural resources and the environment for future generations and prevents shocks. Livelihood changes in rural communities are linked to two factors: the environment and lifestyle; therefore, understanding the relationship between the environment and coomunity and the level of communities dependence on it can help to understand social changes, especially in livelihood security.Livelihood diversity is influenced by various factors (such as social conditions, environmental and climatic conditions, employment opportunities, quality of human resources, macro-governmental policies) and increases social resilience and social participation. Malekshahi district is one of the rural areas of Ilam province, which, due to its harsh and mountainous nature, traditional and pasture-based livestock farming has been one of the main activities of its residents since ancient times and has been the main source of livelihood for the people of this region. However, in recent years, changes in lifestyle and value changes, along with factors such as prolonged droughts, reduced productivity and richness of pastures, and drying up of rivers, springs, and in general water shortages, have led to changes in the livelihood patterns of people in this region. This research aims to investigate and analyze the changes in the livelihoods of the villages of Malekshahi district. What were the causes of these changes? What strategies have local communities employed to deal with this phenomenon? And what consequences have these changes had? Finally, what impact have the changes had on the livelihood patterns of the people on the rural community of Malekshahi district?
Method
This research has a qualitative approach based on grounded theory. Focus group, semi-structured interviews, and observation were used to collect data. Data was collected during the implementation of the project in the years 2020-2021 and was reviewed and completed again in 2022 Interviews with informants were initially conducted in group and focus group with 3 to 5 informants. All informants had the right to express their opinions, and if some informants did not participate, the facilitators used various techniques to get them to discussion. The duration of discussion varied from 1 to 3 hours and the discussions continued as long as the informants were willing to discuss and talk. After summarizing the content of interviews, thet accurated with semi-structured interviews. For sampling, purposive sampling was used and individuals were selected who could contribute to the discovery of new cases and the theoretical model. 34 people participated in this research, most of whose occupations were livestock farming and agriculture for men and housewives for women. The interviews were coded in three stages (open, axial, and selective coding). In open coding, the meaning of sentences and paragraphs was interpreted and appropriate codes were selected for them. Then, similar concepts were analyzed and grouped, and by combining related concepts and categories, themes were identified.
Results
The data were analyzed using the theoretical coding method. In the open coding stage, 88 initial concepts and 13 main categories were extracted. In the axial coding stage, the relationships between these concepts and categories were examined and the categories and concepts that overlapped in meaning were merged together; in the selective coding stage, the final category was extracted. The concepts and categories in the table below show the causal conditions, background conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences of the change in livelihood resources in Malekshahi district. The final category resulting from the investigations is "decline of traditional livestock farming and movement towards semi-commercial livestock farming". The results of the interviews showed that four factors: the spread of drought and water scarcity, destruction of vegetation and poverty of pastures, change of people's attitudes and expansion of sedentary life, high cost of forage and feeding of livestock and uneconomical keeping of livestock in stables played a central role and are the main drivers of change in the field of livestock farming.
Discussion
Analysis of the interview results showed that four factors: internal, natural environmental, cultural social and economic factors played a role in the transformation and changes in the field of livestock farming in Malekshahi district. Internal factors mainly include problems and issues related to livestock farming that have led to a decrease in the desire to keep livestock. These include, among others, losses and problems related to livestock, lack of infrastructure for keeping livestock such as lack of livestock and shelter and forage storage.
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