Systematic Analysis of Structural Factors of Rural Poverty (Case Study: Dehram Village, Selsela County)

Authors

1 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Agricultural Education and Extension Institue, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Rural poverty in Iran is a key obstacle to sustainable development, stemming from inequalities in land ownership, land fragmentation, and gender inequality.
Method: This study aims to investigate the impact of structural factors on poverty in Dahram village using a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach. In the quantitative section, the statistical population included 48 farming households in the village, and due to the small population size, a complete enumeration was conducted. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS software. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and field observations. In the qualitative section, 15 individuals (farmers, women, and local elders) were selected through theoretical sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved.
Findings: Quantitative analysis revealed that 66.6% of the land is owned by 35.4% of households. Lower-class households, with an average landholding of 0.84 hectares, have an income of 1.43 million IRR, which is below the poverty line of 9.8 million IRR. Land fragmentation has reduced productivity. Qualitative findings identified limited access to land (46.7% of codes), gender discrimination (33.3%), and social pressures such as migration and despair (20%) as structural factors contributing to poverty.
Conclusion: Land ownership inequality, land fragmentation, and gender discrimination perpetuate poverty by reducing production, limiting participation, and sustaining social consequences. Recommendations include land consolidation, joint land registration for women and men, and the development of diverse cropping systems. This study provides a localized model and solutions for reducing poverty in similar rural areas.
 

Keywords

References

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