Agricultural land use sustainability in Southwest Iran: Improving land leveling using consolidation plans. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asimeh, Mahboubeh; Nooripoor, Mehdi; Azadi, Hossein; Van Eetvelde, Veerle; Sklenička, Petr; Witlox, Frank
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 94(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Development programs -- Land use sustainability -- Economic justification -- Ecological dimension -- Zarghan District; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104555
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: This study aimed to compare agricultural sustainability with and without land leveling and consolidation plans. Results showed that in leveled and consolidated lands, the sustainability status of the ecological dimension is "good". The sustainability status of the social and economic dimensions is "moderate". The net present value of agricultural activities' revenues is higher in leveled and consolidated lands. Agricultural activities in leveled and consolidated lands have a better status in terms of sustainability. Abstract: In recent years, sustainability has always been one of the most important approaches in policy making and program development in general, especially in the agricultural sector. On the other hand, land leveling and consolidation programs are usually implemented as the development programs of the agricultural sector in different regions of Iran. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the agricultural sustainability in two different regions (with and without land leveling and consolidation) in Zarghan District, Fars Province, Iran. In this research, a quantitative research approach has been used, and data were collected in two phases using a researcher-made questionnaire. The results of the first phase of the study showed that in the leveled and consolidated lands, the ecological dimension is potentially in a good status of sustainability, but social and economic dimensions are in a moderate status. In the unleveled and unconsolidated lands, the ecological dimension is potentially in a good status, while the social dimension is in a moderate, and economic dimensions are in a potentially weak status of sustainability. In addition, comparing the results of the two groups of lands demonstrated that there is a significant difference between them in terms of ecological and economic sustainability, and in consolidated and leveled lands, ecological and economic sustainability are in a more favorable status. Furthermore, the results of the second phase of the research indicated that agricultural activities in both categories of land are beneficial. However, the net present value of agricultural activities revenues in the leveled and consolidated lands is higher than those of the areas outside the coverage of this plan. Therefore, it can be concluded that agricultural activities in leveled and consolidated lands, not only have a better status in terms of sustainability but also have a higher economic justification.