نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Aim: Achieving sustainable food security in developing countries depends on leveraging the capacities of rural-urban linkages. Therefore, formulating strategies to realize these linkages and assess their impact on food security should be prioritized.
Materials & Methods: This research is applied in its objective and descriptive-analytical nature. Data were collected through fieldwork and library research. Through this process, experts identified 17 strengths, 12 weaknesses, 17 opportunities, and 10 threats related to rural-urban linkages that affect food security. For data analysis and the development of optimal strategies regarding rural-urban linkages affecting food security, two strategic planning tools, SWOT and QSPM, were employed.
Findings: The results indicate that the final internal score (IFE) is 2.973, which suggests that the strengths of forming rural-urban linkages in food security outweigh their weaknesses (2.973> 2.5). Moreover, the final external factors score (EFE) is 2.988, indicating that the opportunities for effective rural-urban linkages in food security outweigh the threats (2.988> 2.5). Furthermore, experts identified the aggressive SO strategy as the best strategy for establishing effective rural-urban linkages in the food security of rural households.
Conclusion: This study revealed that the strengths and opportunities of rural-urban linkages in the peri-urban areas of Dehdasht outweigh their weaknesses and threats. The aggressive SO strategy, recognized by experts as the most effective approach, highlights the importance of leveraging existing capacities to enhance food security.
Innovation: The innovation of this study lies in integrating futures studies methods with strategic analysis tools (SWOT and QSPM) to propose effective strategies for rural-urban linkages and food security. Focusing on the peri-urban areas of Dehdasht and employing a network-based approach introduces new dimensions to the analysis, which have been rarely addressed in similar studies.
کلیدواژهها English
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
With the emergence of flows such as people, goods, information, innovation, and capital, conditions for change and transformation are provided. One of the arenas for such linkages is the agricultural and livestock sector in rural areas, which, when connected to urban industries, has led to transformations in environmental, social, cultural, economic, physical, and food security dimensions in rural areas. This type of linkage is evident in some regions of the country, including the city of Dehdasht. The rural settlements of this city, due to their economic activities such as farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, and service activities such as restaurant management, marketing, trading, and other services, as well as their proximity to the city of Dehdasht, have always had a high volume of interactions. These interactions have had a positive impact on food security in rural areas. Based on the aforementioned points, this study aims to identify the potential and limitations of forming effective rural-urban linkages in ensuring food security in the peri-urban areas of Dehdasht, utilizing the analytical SWOT model. In doing so, it examines the internal and external factors influencing rural-urban linkages and explores the approaches and strategies that contribute to food security based on the region’s strengths. Finally, the strategies obtained will be prioritized using the QSPM model. In this regard, the main research question is: What are the optimal strategies for rural-urban linkages that contribute to food security in the peri-urban areas of Dehdasht?
2. Materials and Methods
The research method is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical in nature, with a future studies approach. Data collection was conducted through both fieldwork and documentary methods. Initially, through extensive documentary and library studies (books, articles, and research projects), preliminary field studies, and interviews with experts and specialists, 17 internal strengths against 12 internal weaknesses and 17 external opportunities against 10 external threats concerning the rural-urban linkages impacting food security in the peri-urban areas of Dehdasht were identified These factors were then included in a preliminary questionnaire, which was distributed and completed by the members of the sample population. The finalized factors, after expert opinions were incorporated, were compiled into a final questionnaire using the analytical strategy framework.
Subsequently, by applying the four intersection rules of opportunities and strengths, opportunities and weaknesses, threats and opportunities, and threats and weaknesses, as well as comparing internal and external factors, the (SO, WO, ST, and WT) strategies were formulated. In this process, using the pairwise comparison questionnaire filled out by professors, experts, and specialists, the weights of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were extracted using the ANP model. The sample population of this research consists of 25 experts and specialists, including university professors (from Yasouj University, Shahid Beheshti University, and Zanjan University), PhD students in geography, rural planning, and rural development at various universities in Iran, as well as village chiefs from the studied rural areas. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were ensured through feedback from university professors, and necessary revisions were made based on their suggestions. To measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha method was used, with the following results: strengths (0.915), weaknesses (0.823), opportunities (0.927), and threats (0.735), indicating high reliability. For data analysis, in order to provide optimal strategies for rural-urban linkages affecting food security, two strategic planning tools (SWOT and QSPM) were used.
3. Results and Discussion
The most significant strengths in the rural-urban linkages that affect food security for peri-urban rural households in the city of Dehdasht include "hope for a promising future and reduced food costs for rural households," which was assigned a score of 0.205 by experts among the 17 identified strength factors. The second and third rankings are "the presence of urban specialists in agricultural product processing to improve food security" and "the willingness of rural residents to take risks and engage in new activities to enhance food security," with scores of 0.185 and 0.172, respectively.
The most significant opportunity regarding rural-urban linkages impacting food security for peri-urban rural households in Dehdasht is the establishment of a support system for agricultural production (fertilizer, seeds, saplings, agricultural tools) in cities to improve food security, receiving a score of 0.222 among the 17 identified opportunity factors. Additionally, reducing administrative corruption and facilitating the allocation of appropriate budgets to the agricultural and rural industries sector, promoting and educating about advanced planting, cultivation, and harvesting technologies, and relying on experts and specialists for insurance matters and evaluating the extent of damage to livestock and crops were ranked second, third, and fourth, with scores of 0.203, 0.200, and 0.199, respectively.
The results of the research, based on internal factors, showed "hope for a promising future and reduced food costs for rural households," "the presence of urban specialists in agricultural product processing to improve food security," and "the willingness of rural residents to take risks and engage in new activities to enhance food security" are the most significant strengths in the rural-urban linkages impacting food security for peri-urban rural households in the city of Dehdasht. Additionally, "lack of attention to the rapid technological changes and the information age for promoting agricultural and food products through the media," "absence of a suitable platform for utilizing the young workforce and urban and rural specialists in various agricultural production processes," and "lack of appropriate conditions for retaining university graduates, particularly in agriculture, in rural areas" were identified as the most significant weaknesses in the rural-urban linkages affecting food security for rural households.
Furthermore, the internal factors evaluation (IFE) score of 2.973 indicates that the strengths of rural-urban linkages influencing food security for peri-urban households in Dehdasht outweigh their weaknesses (2.973 > 2.5). In addition, the external factors evaluation (EFE) score of 2.988 shows that the opportunities for forming rural-urban linkages impacting food security for peri-urban households in Dehdasht surpass the threats (2.988 > 2.5).
4. Conclusions
The results of the study indicate that the most favorable strategies for forming rural-urban linkages that enhance food security for peri-urban households in the city of Dehdasht, using strategic planning tools, are aggressive strategies. The first strategy presented, based on the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (SO2), was recognized by experts as the most favorable strategy. This strategy involves providing facilities and credits for infrastructure in the technology and information sectors in rural areas, to promote innovation and new marketing methods, eliminate intermediaries, and facilitate the sale of agricultural and livestock products. It also seeks to establish connections between buyers and sellers of these products, thereby improving food security.
5. Acknowledgment & Funding
· This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
· The authors would like to sincerely thank all respected professors, experts, and consultants whose valuable support and cooperation played a significant role in the completion of this research.
6. Conflict of Interest
· The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
