Document Type : Original Article
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Economic empowerment is considered a process that enables the optimal use of rural resources and creates a context for improving individuals' cognitive skills, identifying problems, and determining economic priorities by providing the necessary tools. Therefore, economic empowerment of individuals and communities means creating the required capabilities to obtain collective responsibility in economic activities in order to achieve a better life and become managers of their own development. In the meantime, the local community capacity determines the time and place of implementing the local economic development strategy and recognizing the capabilities and empowerment of the local community, expanding human empowerment, economic opportunities, social factors, and ecological resources. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to identify local capacities, understand needs and capabilities, and create a context for empowering the rural economy in Razavieh district of Mashhad city.
2. Materials and Methods
The present study uses a descriptive-analytical research method of an applied type. The information is collected through library and survey method. The statistical population, including heads of rural household in 18 villages of Razavieh district, with 303 people and the opinions of 26 different experts in the region, were questioned. The rural household questionnaire is used in relation to general capacities and the experts questionnaire is used related to economic capacities. Data analysis is performed using SPSS software for one-sample t-test and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).
3. Results and Discussion
Based on the assessment of general and economic capacities of the studied villages in Razavieh district, the following results are obtained: according to t-test and average level of general capacities in the natural and physical dimensions, in relation to soil and pastures fertility, and the status of gas and electricity supply, a suitable situation is observed as per interviews with rural households. However, the issue of water shortage is one of the important challenges, especially considering the recent droughts. Moreover, according to the research indicators, the socio-economic dimensions, including the level of financial ability, savings, and the ability to provide affordable raw materials and receive facilities, are at a low level according to the respondents. From the perspective of households, general capacities include natural, physical, human-social, and economic dimensions, and from the perspective of experts, economic capacities are assessed in relation to economic sectors (agriculture, industry, and complementary activities). The most important capacities from the perspective of rural households and experts are obtained using the factor analysis method. Economic capacities from the perspective of experts include the development of local economy and processing and complementary industries with 34.142 percent, support for local entrepreneurship with 12.966 percent, innovation in agriculture with 12.259 percent, diversity in production and tourism with 8.177 percent, and product branding with 6.169 percent of the variance are explained. From the perspective of rural households, general capacities include human resources and capabilities with 15.039 percent, infrastructure and public services with 9.649 percent, facilities and financial resources with 8.156 percent, natural and agricultural resources with 12.259 percent, quality of life and services with 6.381 percent, and local knowledge and social participation with 5.903 percent of the variance are explained. The most important factors from the perspective of households are human resources and capabilities, which include the ability of individuals in marketing and raw material procurement, given the urgent need to provide animal feed due to high cost and shortage of materials, access to skilled labor, savings amount, and relationships with governmental organizations in the field of marketing and guaranteed product prices and raw material procurement for animal feed. From the perspective of experts, the development of local economy and processing and complementary industries, the existence of industries and cooperatives, local marketing, and organic material production are of great importance for capacity building in economy and rural empowerment. Therefore, considering the absence of processing and complementary industries, according to regional production and the need for food industries, as well as preventing the raw sale of livestock and agricultural products, the development of local economy and the existence of processing and complementary industries are considered the most important factors in empowering the rural economy which are the most important factors affecting the economic empowerment.
4. Conclusion
Comprehensive understanding of economic activities and capacities of villages and the capacity building strategy as the promotion of local resources, mutual reinforcement of agricultural and non-agricultural sectors will lead to production strengthening, employment creation and ultimately economic development. Therefore, this study has identified public and economic capacities with two groups of households and experts, thus providing a comprehensive view of the status of capacities that will lead to local communities’ empowerment. The results show that the status of public capacities is not in a desirable state according to the evaluation of indicators. In addition, by prioritizing the most important factors in public capacities, emphasis has been placed on the factor of human resources and capabilities; and economic capacities emphasize the factor of developing the local economy and processing and complementary industries.
5. Aknowledgmant & Funding
The manuscript did not receive a grant from any organization.
6. Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
