Village and Development

Village and Development

Investigating the Components of Improving the Welfare of Rural Households that are Members and Non-Members of Rural Production Cooperatives in Miandoab City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Sh. Choobchian 1
K. Hassanzadh 2
E. Karami Dehkordi 3
M. Motaghed 4
1 Corresponding Author and Associate Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2 MSc of Rural Development, Rural Development, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Associate Professor of Rural Development, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
4 Posdoctoral Researcher of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
10.30490/rvt.2023.362173.1523
Abstract
Introduction
Rural production cooperatives play an important role in reducing rural poverty by increasing production efficiency and providing services that governments are unable to provide for poor people. This research aimed to investigate the 12 components of the Legatum Index improving the welfare of rural households that are members and non-members of rural production cooperatives in Miandoab Township.
Materials and Methods
The present research was conducted using a survey and descriptive-correlational methodology. The size of the target population includes 17493 rural households, members and non-members of rural production cooperatives, and 377 households were randomly selected. Questionnaire was the main tool for data collecting. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education specialists at Tarbiat Modares University and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. To investigate the components of improving the welfare of rural households and checking the goodness of fit index, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using SPSS and LISREL software.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that there is a significant difference between member and non-member rural households in terms of welfare component status. So in the components of safety and security; individual freedom; governance; social capital; investment environment; entrepreneurial conditions; market access and infrastructure; economic quality; living conditions; sanitation and health; and education; there was a significant difference between member and non-member households, and only in the natural environment component, no significant difference was seen.
Conclusions
Rural production cooperatives played an effective role in improving the welfare of rural households in Miandoab City, and its average was calculated as 3.56; which shows the positive effect of cooperatives in improving the overall welfare of rural households. In this regard, it is suggested to provide entrepreneurship training to increase agricultural production, diversify the rural economy, and create the necessary foundation for increasing wealth.
Keywords
Welfare of Rural Households
Rural Production Cooperative
Structural Equation Modeling
Subjects
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