journal of sustainable rural development

journal of sustainable rural development

The role of horticultural products in sustainable livelihoods in western Iranian settlements: A Case study of Sarab Qamish rural district, Sanandaj city

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Prof, Department of Geography and urban planning, Faculty of Social Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jsrd.2026.563824.1233
Abstract
Purpose: Horticulture, as one of the main branches of agriculture, can play a significant role in sustaining rural livelihoods. This study investigates the role of horticulture in residents’ satisfaction and the sustainability of rural settlements surrounding the Qeshlaq Dam.
Method: Regarding its research purpose, this study is applied, and in terms of methodology, it follows a descriptive–analytical approach. Data were collected through document analysis and field surveys. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample size of 62 rural households. The questionnaire’s content validity was assessed through expert judgment by rural development scholars, and its reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha for 13 economic and social indicators. Data analysis was conducted using mean comparisons and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: Findings indicate that the level of satisfaction was 3.3 in the economic dimension and 3.2 in the social dimension. More than 95% of respondents reported satisfaction with horticulture-based livelihoods in the economic dimension, and about 89% expressed satisfaction in the social dimension. Respondents perceived orchard production as a factor contributing to the sustainability of rural settlements. The most influential economic item was income generation (mean = 3.8), while the most influential social item was the expansion of horticultural activities, which has contributed to the development of ecotourism and tourism (mean = 3.6).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings suggest that orchard production has positively contributed to rural sustainability and supported the continued viability of rural settlements.
Keywords

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 July 2026