Appropriate Policy Options for Sustainable Agriculture As Perceived
by Farmers of Hamadan Province-Iran

Karim Naderi Mahdei*, Seyed Mahmoud Hosseini, Khalil Kalantari and Ali Asadi

Department of Agriculture Extension and Education, Faculty of Economy and Agricultural Development, University of Tehran
*e-mail: knadery@yahoo.com

Abstract

In this area, many factors threaten the sustainability of agriculture. Some of these factors are: degradation of rangelands, increasing use of chemical inputs, soil erosion, depletion of soil nutrients and quality, pollution of ground and surface water, converting the arable land, low income, farmer poverty and deprivation, lack of job and farm household security, youth immigration, and social tensions. So, one of the important measures is formulation appropriate policy for agricultural development programs.
The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify farmers constructed appropriate policy options for sustainable agriculture development in Hamadan province. This research was qualitative research. The data collection instrument was a qualitative protocol which it's validity confirmed by jury of experts. Eventually the qualitative protocol was completed through semi-structured interview with farmers in the field. Data analysis was accomplished using conceptualization methods. The results of conceptualization show, rehabilitation of resource, and technical environmental protection policies conceptualized in the theme of environmental policies. In the theme of economic policies, family economy policies, market and employment policies were conceptualized. Knowledge improvement and educational policies, social service policies, social anomy reduction policies, institutional policies and farmer security policies were conceptualized in the theme of societal policies. The findings of the research as an alarm, can contribute to policy makers to contribute this policies in sustainable agricultural development programs in the area.

Keywords: Sustainable agriculture, Social and ecological sustainability, Sustainability policies, socially constructed policies, Qualitative research, Iran