Measuring and evaluating the sustainability of the paddy farming system using the combined index method (A case study: Lahijan county)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Graduated M.Sc., Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
 In the past decades, the increase in the use of high-yielding seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and water, along with high production costs, has increased the yield of agricultural products significantly. This has led to an increase in dependence on the consumption of non-renewable inputs in the agricultural sector and environmental damage. Therefore, measuring sustainability and knowing the factors affecting it can play an important role in formulating sustainable agricultural policies and strategies. With this approach, the present study measures and evaluates the sustainability of the paddy farming system in Lahijan county.
Materials and methods
 In this study, the required information was collected in the form of face-to-face interviews and by completing a questionnaire from paddy farmers in Lahijan county in the crop year of 2021. In addition, stratified sampling was used to determine the sample size. In the following, by using the combined index by the method of deviation from the optimal value, the optimal pattern for each farmer was determined; Finally, the hierarchical analysis process (AHP) was used to determine the weight of social, economic and ecological indicators.
Research findings
The results of calculating the weight of indicators showed that ecological, economic and social indicators with weights of 0.558, 0.320 and 0.122, respectively, were the most important in evaluating the level of sustainability of the paddy production system. In addition, the results showed that the local and low-yielding cultivars had a more favorable situation in terms of sustainability indicators, and the farmers who benefited from agro-ecological management operations were at a higher levels in terms of ecological and economic sustainability as well as the overall sustainability. Besides, based on the results of the current study, farmers with single and concentrated lands had a more favorable situation in terms of economic stability and overall stability. Comparison of the management indicators also showed that the sub-index of agro-ecological management was the most important among the ecological sub-indices, and the rural participation was more important among the social sub-indices. Furthermore, the sub-index of gross profit margin had a higher relative weight among the economic sub-indices.
 Conclusion
The results showed that participation in extension classes has a direct and significant effect on the sustainability of paddy cultivation, while the farmers who benefited from agro-ecological management operations were at a more favorable level of sustainability. Therefore, it is suggested to strengthen support services and sustainable operation skills among farmers and to encourage and promote more use of agro-ecological management operations at the farm level. Also, the results of the current study showed that farmers with single and concentrated lands had a more favorable situation in terms of economic stability as well as overall stability. Therefore, moving to larger farm sizes can have a positive effect on the sustainability of paddy cultivation.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects


Abdollahzadeh, G., Kalantari, K., Fisher, R., Asadi, A. and Daneshvar-Ameri, Zh. 2012. Spatial patterns of agricultural development: Application of the composite index approach (A case study of Fars province). Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 14(1), pp. 51-64. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.16807073.2012.14.1.13.3.
Alibeigi, A.H. and Baboli, M. 2009. An assessing the sustainability of agriculture practiced by wheat growing farmers in Sarpole-Zahab township (Application of DSR model). Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 39(1), pp. 111-122. [In Persian]. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20084838.1387.39.1.11.1.
Arabioun, A.A.Gh., Kalantari, Kh., Asadi, A. and Shaaban Ali Fami, H. 2010. Measuring sustainability level of wheat cropping system in Fars province and determining affecting factors. Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Journl, 5(2), pp. 17-28. [In Persian].
Bahadori Ghezeljeh, M., Zarifian, Sh., Kohestani, H. and Kalantari, Kh. 2018. Identification of economic and social sustainability indicators of small-scale family farming. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 49(1), pp. 165-177. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22059/IJAEDR.2018.243238.668501.
Bulluck, L.R., Brosius, M., Evanylo, G.K. and Ristaino, J.B. 2002. Organic and synthetic fertility amendments influence soil microbial, physical and chemical properties on organic and conventional farms. Applied Soil Ecology, 19(2), pp. 147-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-1393(01)00187-1.
Dantsis, T., Douma, C., Giourga, C., Loumou, A. and Polychronaki, E.A. 2010. A methodological approach to assess and compare the sustainability level of agricultural plant production systems. Ecological Indicators, 10(2), pp. 256-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.05.007.
Esty, D.C., Levy, M.A., Srebotnjak, T. and de Sherbinin, A. 2005. Environmental Sustainability Index: Benchmarking National Environmental Stewardship. Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. New Haven.
Gulaliyev, M.G., Abasova, S.T., Samedova, E.R., Hamidova, L.A., Valiyeva, S.A. and Serttash, L.A. 2019. Assessment of agricultural sustainability (Azerbaijan case). Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 25(Suppl. 2), pp. 80-89.
Hassanshahi, H., Irvani, H. and Kalantari, Kh. 2009. An Assessment of the levels of farming system sustainability among wheat growing farmers in agricultural production cooperatives (Fars province).
 Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 40(2), pp. 135-143. [In Persian]. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20084838.1388.40.2.13.2.
Qiu, H.J., Zhu, W.B., Wang, H.B. and Cheng, X. 2007. Analysis and design of agricultural sustainability indicators system. Agricultural Sciences in China, 6(4), pp. 475-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1671-2927(07)60072-8.
Irvani, H. and Darban-Astaneh, A.R. 2004. Measurment, analysis and explaition of the sustainability of farming systems (Case study: Wheat production, Tehran province). Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science, 35(1), pp. 39-52. [In Persian].  
Kamkar, B. and Mahdavi Damghani, A.M. 2017. Basics of Sustainable Agriculture. Jahad Daneshgahi of Mashhad Press, Mashhad, Iran. 316 p.[In Persian]. 
Ko, T.G. 2005. Development of a tourism sustainability assessment procedure: A conceptual approach. Tourism Management, 26(3), pp. 431-445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2003.12.003.
Korfmacher, K.S. 2000. Farmland preservation and sustainable agriculture: Grassroots and policy connections. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, 15(1), pp. 37-43. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0889189300008444.
Lugandu, S. 2013. Factors influencing the adoption of conservation agriculture by smallholder farmers in Karatu and Kongwa districts of Tanzania. Proceedings of the REPOA’s 18th Annual Research Workshop, 3-4 April 2013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Movahedi, R., Amiri Bavandpour, N. and Naderi Mehdeei, K. 2016. Factors affecting the agricultural sustainability of wheat farms in Kermanshah county. Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 6(1), 97-111. [In Persian].  
Mohammadi, F. 2018. Environmental sustainability and its realization factors in the agricultural sector (Case study: Pakdasht county). Agricultural Economics and Development, 26(1), pp. 247-267. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.30490/AEAD.2018.65206.
Hoseini, S.M., Naderi Mahdiei, K. and Kalantari, k. 2007. A study of ecological sustainability of smallholder farming system in Saleh Abad district, Hamadan. Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science, 2-38(3), pp. 91-98. [In Persian].
Nardo, M., Saisana, M., Saltelli, A., Tarantola, S., Hoffman, A. and Giovannini, E. 2008. Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators: Methodology and User Guide. OECD Publishing. JRC 47008.
OECD. 2001. Environmental Indicators for Agriculture. Vol. 3. Methods and Results. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Publication, France.
Pretty, J.N. 1995. Regenerating Agriculture: Policies and Practice for Sustainability and Self-Reliance. Joseph Henry Press. 336 p.
Riesgo, L. and Gomez-Limon, J.A. 2006. Multi-criteria policy scenario analysis for public regulation of irrigated agriculture. Agricultural Systems, 91(1-2), pp. 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2006.01.005.
Rohani, H., Ghorbani, M. and Kohensal, M. 2021. Analysis of the effective factors on dimensions of sustainable agricultural development in Khorasan Razavi province, using seemingly unrelated regression equations. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 52(1), pp. 33-52. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22059/IJAEDR.2021.308780.668977.
Roy, R., Weng Chan, N. and Xenarios, S. 2016. Sustainability of rice production systems: An empirical evaluation to improve policy. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 18, pp. 257-278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-015-9638-x.
Saltiel, J, Bauder, J.W. and Palakovich, S. 1994. Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: Diffusion, farm structure and profitability. Rural Sociology, 59(2), pp. 333-349. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1549-0831.1994.tb00536.x.
Todorova, A. 2005. Economic and social effects of land fragmentation on Bulgarian agriculture. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 6(4), 555-562.
Van Passel, S., Nevens, F., Mathijs, E. and Van Huylenbroeck, G. 2007. Measuring farm sustainability and explaining differences in sustainable efficiency. Ecological Economics, 62(1), pp. 149-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.06.008.
Vesterby, M. 1997. Farm Machinery. In: Anderson, M. and Magleby, R. (Eds.). Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 1996-97. Agricultural Handbook No. 712. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). pp. 142-153.
Zulfiqar, F. and Thapa, G.B. 2017. Agricultural sustainability assessment at provincial level in Pakistan. Land Use Policy, 68, 492-502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.08.016.
Javadi Baghi, S., Motamed, M. K., & Ghorbani Piralidehi, F. (2022). Investigating effective factors on achieving sustainable agriculture in rice production in Guilan province (Case study: Rasht city). CerealResearch,12(2),167-185. https://doi.org/10.22124/cr.2023.23668.1755.