تحلیل تغییرات ساختاری-کارکردی روستاهای شهرستان تنکابن با تاکید بر بخش کشاورزی

Introduction

Rural communities have long been regarded as the primary and fundamental form of human social life, playing a crucial role in meeting subsistence and economic needs. However, economic, social, and technological developments in recent decades have brought about significant changes in the structure and function of villages. Rural transformation encompasses a wide range of changes, including shifts in agricultural practices, alterations in rural land use, migration of individuals between locations and sectors, as well as dynamic and new interactions between the agricultural sector and other sectors. The functional changes in villages are influenced by various factors, which vary depending on the level of development in different countries. On the other hand, Mazandaran Province, as one of the leading agricultural regions in Iran, has contributed significantly to the production of crops and livestock in recent years. Nevertheless, rural and agricultural areas in this province, including Tonekabon County, have experienced extensive structural and functional economic changes over the past few decades. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the trends of structural and functional changes in the villages of Tonekabon County over the past two decades and identify the factors influencing these changes.



Methodology

The present study is applied in terms of its objective and employs a survey method for data collection. In terms of variable control, this research falls under the category of non-experimental studies. The statistical population of the study consisted of 10,737 rural households residing in the two districts of Mir Shamsuddin and Galijahan in Tonekabon County. The sample size was estimated using Daniel's formula (2011), resulting in 246 household heads. Ultimately, after excluding incomplete responses, 250 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The samples were selected using a multi-stage stratified sampling method with proportional allocation. In this process, among the seven districts of Tonekabon County, the aforementioned two districts were chosen due to their larger population and greater diversity in rural conditions compared to other districts. Subsequently, the sample households were selected proportionally based on the population of the villages in each district. To examine the structural-functional changes, data from the time horizon of 2001 to 2021 were used, and the Beaujeu-Garnier method was applied. Additionally, a researcher-developed questionnaire was utilized to assess the changes from the perspective of the sample individuals. To ensure the validity of the measurement tool, a panel of experts was consulted, and the reliability of the research instrument was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

Findings

The results revealed that Tonekabon County had a predominantly agricultural role until 2006. However, from the 2010s onwards, it has transitioned into a multi-functional county and appears to be moving towards a commercial or service-oriented role in the future. This indicates a decline in the role of agriculture in the county's dominant economic structure. The findings, derived from the perspectives of rural household heads residing in the villages of Tonekabon County, showed that, according to them, the rural population engaged in agriculture has decreased over the past two decades. The historical fabric of the villages has generally declined, and agricultural income has decreased relative to household expenses. At the same time, they observed a significant increase in land use changes and construction in the villages during this period, while the production and yield of crops, horticultural products, and livestock have declined.

A significant positive relationship at the 1% level was found between the age variable and the structural-functional changes as perceived by the respondents. This means that respondents who were older assessed the extent of functional changes to be higher. Additionally, a significant negative relationship at the 1% level was observed between the perceived changes by rural residents and the size of agricultural lands. Based on the results, it was found that there was a significant positive relationship at the 1% level between the variables of economic-livelihood factors, socio-cultural factors, and physical-structural factors with the functional changes in villages as perceived by the respondents. However, no significant relationship was observed between environmental-ecological factors and political-institutional factors with functional changes.



Discussion and Conclusion

The results of the present study indicate that the villages of Tonekabon County have undergone significant structural and functional changes over the past two decades. One of the most important changes is the reduction in agricultural activities, which is reflected in the decrease in arable land, orchard and livestock production. These changes are due to a variety of factors, including changes in the consumption patterns of rural households, economic recession in traditional activities such as animal husbandry and handicrafts, and the tendency towards non-agricultural jobs. Additionally, the increase in land prices and the conversion of agricultural land to residential and industrial use have also been influential factors in these transformations.

Although these changes may bring short-term economic benefits to some landowners, in the long run, they can pose serious challenges to the economic and social sustainability of rural areas. The reduction in agricultural production and the loss of arable land threaten the region's food security and may lead to hidden unemployment, migration of villagers to cities, and increased dependency on food imports. To address the challenges arising from structural and functional changes in the villages of Tonekabon County, it is necessary to formulate and implement supportive policies to preserve and develop agriculture in these areas. These policies may include providing financial and credit facilities to farmers, supporting sustainable agricultural technologies, and creating financial incentives to prevent the conversion of agricultural land. Moreover, the development of processing industries and the creation of non-agricultural job opportunities can help increase the income of rural inhabitants and reduce the tendency to change land use. Additionally, strengthening rural infrastructure, improving healthcare and educational services, and raising public awareness about sustainable development are essential measures for improving the quality of life of villagers and the economic and social sustainability of these areas. Finally, the participation of non-governmental organizations and local associations in planning and implementing developmental policies can greatly contribute to achieving sustainable rural development.