Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to identify and explain the effects of drought in rural areas of Iran. The statistical population of this study consisted of all the heads of households of Esfejin village in Zanjan County (N = 2932). A sample of 340 persons was selected using a method of simple random sampling. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with respondents based on a structured questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to establish reliability of the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for the main scale of questionnaire, which scored more than 0.75, confirming its appropriate reliability. The results revealed that four factors can be considered as important for identifying and explaining the effects of drought in Esfejin village and these factors were economic, environmental, social and psychological. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the effects of drought in rural areas and can be implemented in future planning of proper programs to overcome these effects.
Machine summary:
"ir Desert 21-1 (2016) – 56-64 Identifying and explaining the effects of drought in rural areas in Iran from viewpoints of farmers (Case Study: Esfejin village, Zanjan county) R.
’ (2) The UN Convention to Combat Drought and Desertification (UN Secretariat General, 1994) defines ‘drought means the naturally occurring phenomenon that exists when precipitation has been considerably below normal recorded levels, causing serious hydrological imbalances that adversely affect land resource production systems.
According to these research questions, the main purpose of the study was to identify and explain the effects of drought in the rural areas of Zanjan County.
With regards to this aim the major hypothesis of the study was that drought effects rural life including economic, environmental, social and psychological aspects in the rural areas of Zanjan County.
There needs to be more attention from the government to insurance of funding for agricultural products as an effective strategy for crisis management through timely payment for damages and the complete support and funding of employment opportunities and the devoting sufficient funds for creating employment in the study area; 2- In the environmental dimension: identification and extension of appropriate varieties and species compatible with the regional climate as a substitute for crops with high water requirements and the development and extension of horticultural crops compatible with regional climate in drought conditions."