Analysis of Structural-Functional Changes in the Villages of Tonekabon County with an Emphasis on the Agricultural Sector

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Extension & Education, Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari University of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Sari, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran.

Abstract

. Introduction
Rural communities have historically represented the primary and most enduring form of human social organization, playing a vital role in meeting subsistence and economic needs. However, in recent decades, economic, social, and technological transformations have brought profound changes to the structure and functions of villages. Rural transformation encompasses a broad array of shifts, including modifications in agricultural practices, changes in land use patterns, population migration between sectors and regions, and the emergence of dynamic new interactions between the agricultural sector and non-agricultural activities. These functional transformations are influenced by multiple factors that vary according to each country’s level of socioeconomic development. Mazandaran Province, as one of Iran’s most productive agricultural regions, has long contributed significantly to crop and livestock production. Nevertheless, rural and agricultural areas within this province—particularly those in Tonekabon County—have undergone extensive structural and functional changes in recent decades. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to analyze the trends in structural and functional transformations occurring in the villages of Tonekabon County over the past two decades. Furthermore, the study seeks to identify and evaluate the key factors driving these transformations, with particular attention to their socio-economic and physical implications for rural development.
 

Methodology

This research is applied in purpose and employs a survey-based, non-experimental design. The statistical population comprises 10,737 rural households living in the Mir Shamsuddin and Galijahan districts of Tonekabon County. The sample size was determined using Daniel’s (2011) formula, resulting in 246 household heads; after excluding incomplete responses, 250 valid questionnaires were ultimately analyzed. Sampling was conducted using a multi-stage stratified method with proportional allocation. Among the seven districts of Tonekabon County, the two selected districts were chosen due to their larger populations and greater diversity in rural conditions. Sample households were distributed proportionally based on village population within each district. For assessing structural–functional changes, data covering the period 2001–2021 were analyzed using the Beaujeu-Garnier method. In addition, a researcher-developed questionnaire was administered to evaluate perceived changes from the perspective of rural residents. Instrument validity was established through expert review, while reliability was confirmed via Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, indicating acceptable internal consistency.
 

Findings

The findings reveal that Tonekabon County maintained a primarily agricultural character until around 2006, but has since transitioned into a multi-functional region, with a growing emphasis on commerce and services—marking a steady decline in agriculture’s economic centrality. Rural household heads reported key trends underpinning this shift: a shrinking share of the population engaged in farming, degradation of villages’ historical fabric, declining agricultural income relative to household expenses, and a surge in land-use conversion and construction coinciding with reduced crop, horticultural, and livestock output. Statistical analysis confirmed significant relationships: older respondents perceived greater structural–functional change (positive correlation at the 1% level), while smaller landholders reported more pronounced shifts (negative correlation at the 1% level). Additionally, functional changes were strongly linked—at the 1% significance level—to economic–livelihood, socio-cultural, and physical–structural factors, but showed no significant association with environmental–ecological or political–institutional dimensions. Together, these findings indicate that economic reorientation, sociocultural dynamics, and physical restructuring are the dominant forces reshaping rural Tonekabon.
 

Discussion and Conclusion

The study confirms that villages in Tonekabon County have undergone significant structural and functional transformations over the past two decades, most notably marked by a sharp decline in agricultural activity—evidenced by reduced cultivation, orchard productivity, and livestock breeding. These changes are driven by shifting household consumption patterns, the economic decline of traditional livelihoods like animal husbandry and handicrafts, and a growing preference for non-agricultural employment. Compounding these trends, rising land prices and the conversion of farmland into residential and industrial uses, while offering short-term financial gains for some landowners, jeopardize long-term rural resilience by undermining food security, fostering latent unemployment, accelerating rural–urban migration, and increasing reliance on food imports. To counter these challenges, the study urges targeted policy interventions, including financial and credit support for farmers, promotion of sustainable agricultural technologies, economic incentives to curb farmland conversion, and development of agro-processing and alternative rural employment opportunities. Complementary investments in rural infrastructure, health, education, and public awareness of sustainability principles are also vital for enhancing social cohesion and quality of life. Finally, active engagement of NGOs and local community organizations in development planning and implementation is recommended to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable rural futures in Tonekabon County.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Village and Space Sustainable Development
Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 23
October 2025
Pages 191-218

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History

  • Receive Date: 11 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 07 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 May 2025

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