journal of sustainable rural development

journal of sustainable rural development

The role of garden products on sustainable livelihoods in western Iranian settlements (Case of Sanandaj city - Sarab Qamish rural district)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Rahmat Bahrami 1
Mostafa Shahinifar 2
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 villages located around the Qeshlaq Dam.
Methods: In terms of purpose, the research is applied; in terms of nature, it is descriptive–analytical. Data were collected through both library (documentary) research and field surveys. Based on Cochran’s formula, the sample size was estimated at 62 households. The questionnaire’s validity and reliability were confirmed through expert judgment by rural development scholars, and reliability was assessed in SPSS using Cronbach’s alpha for 13 economic and social items. Data analysis was conducted using mean comparisons and Pearson’s correlation test.
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 also believed that orchard production has ensured 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 analytical results show that large-scale production of orchard crops in the village has enhanced rural sustainability and long-term settlement persistence.
Keywords
Horticulture
sustainability
village
Sarab Qamish
Sanandaj
journal of sustainable rural development

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