The role of flower and plant cultivation in the development of villages in the central part of Pakdasht city

Dissertation for Master's Degree

Field: Geography Major: Rural Planning

Abstract

Pakdasht city, which stretches from the south of the Alborz mountain range to the plain, and due to the presence of the Jajroud river and its fertile soil, is a suitable environment for farmers, especially for growing flowers and plants. These factors, along with the favorable climate and relatively adequate rainfall, have made growing flowers and plants a serious job among the people of this city in recent years. The central part of Pakdasht city has chosen flower and plant cultivation as a main occupation and today they play a major role in the domestic and even foreign flower and plant markets. This research, using the descriptive-analytical method, using documentary sources along with field studies, has determined the role of flower and plant cultivation in the development of villages in the central part of Pakdasht city, and examined and identified the obstacles and problems in flower and plant cultivation. The statistical population of this research is all the villages with flower and plant cultivation in the central part of Pakdasht city, which includes 6 villages. There are 470 traditional and mechanized greenhouses in these villages. The results of the research show that according to the history of flower and plant cultivation in the studied area and the expansion of this plant cultivation activity in the economic dimension has caused a significant increase in income as well as increased employment and in the social dimension it has caused the permanence of the population in the village and reverse migration.

Key words: flower and plant cultivation, economic-social development, the central part of Pakdasht city

Introduction

In low-income countries, the agricultural sector due to The expansion and strong links with other economic sectors act as the engine and primary driver of economic growth. Agriculture accounts for the largest share of labor in these countries and has a special place with 68% of employment and 24% of GDP. Most of the poor population is directly dependent on this sector and lives through subsistence agriculture. The increase in productivity in the agricultural sector makes food cheaper and contributes significantly to the economy of poor households. Also, modern agriculture is associated with more employment in processing units and leads to the supply of more services and inputs in the market. This trend has indirectly led to the creation of employment in farms, and in this way, the agricultural sector directly contributes to economic growth through more production and exports indirectly through increasing the demand for the services of industrial agencies in rural communities, and as a result, creates new job opportunities. In general, the growth of agriculture has indirectly helped to improve the condition of urban and rural households and is accompanied by an increase in wages, a decrease in food prices, and a greater demand for intermediary goods and services. Pakdasht city is one of the hubs of flower and vegetable production in the country and its location in the important and transit axis of Imam Reza (AS) has turned this city into one of the high-traffic and of course important areas of the country, and if proper attention and exploitation of its resources can be seen, the growth and development of this area can be witnessed. In the whole country, five thousand hectares of land are cultivated with flowers and plants and greenhouse plants, about one fifth of which belongs to Pakdasht city, and the production of more than 850 million cut flowers and the variety of agricultural and garden products show the capacity and potential of this city in the field of industry and agriculture. Currently, the needs of flowers and plants in Tehran and many other parts of the country are provided from this city, and one of the other advantages of this city is the presence of suitable lands and agricultural lands, which are suitable in terms of quantity and quality for the production of crops and gardens, and these capacities, by increasing the level of cultivated agricultural land and providing facilities to farmers and activists in this field, provided the basis for the further growth of this sector. Therefore, this thesis is trying to examine the role of flower and plant cultivation in the development of the villages of the central part of Pakdasht city, and this thesis is compiled in the following five chapters: Chapter one: The generality of the research, which includes the statement of the problem, the importance and necessity of the research, research objectives, research questions, research hypothesis, obstacles and limitations of the research, words and concepts. Chapter two: review of sources, research literature, and research background Chapter three: implementation method Research, materials and methods

Chapter four: data analysis and research findings. In this chapter, the descriptive findings of the research have been analyzed.

The fifth chapter: test of hypotheses, discussion, conclusion and suggestions. 

Chapter 1

(research overview)

1 statement of the problem

Today, the flower and ornamental plant production industry has become one of the most profitable industries. So that in this way, billions of dollars of profits are given to the major countries that produce flowers and ornamental plants. However, in a situation where the production of flowers and plants, according to the geographical and climatic features of the country, is considered a suitable work field for earning foreign currency and creating sustainable employment, but this industry is far from reaching the desired point, and the cultivation and breeding of ornamental flowers in the country as an export and currency-earning product does not have a long history. Nevertheless, nowadays, due to the profitable foreign markets, this industry has attracted the attention of flower and plant exporters, and in this regard, Iran's position is important due to being next to countries that consume flowers and plants in this regard, and Iran's northern and southern neighbors are very good buyers and suitable markets for ornamental flowers. Pakdasht has been registered and the production of flowers and plants in Pakdasht city has a history of 75 years. Most of the flower and plant producers of the city were previously engaged in growing flowers and plants in Tehran and other cities, but after the glorious victory of the Islamic revolution, flower and plant growing in the city has expanded day by day, and now Pakdasht city with an area of ??about 900 hectares of growing flowers and green plants, seeds and seedlings and about 1000 producers, is considered the largest flower and plant growing center in Iran. The central part of Pakdasht city is not exempted from this and due to the special geographical conditions of the region and the exploitation of some fields as flower gardens in recent years, it has been facing problems and by solving these problems in the long term, it can be very effective in the economic development of the concerned part. Therefore, the present research is trying to analyze and examine the role of flower and plant cultivation in the development of the villages in the central part of Pakdasht city and to answer the following main question: To what extent has flower and plant cultivation played a role in the development of the villages in the central part of Pakdasht city? In the south of the country, it is the season for growing ornamental flowers. This feature of the country is a very suitable platform for the cultivation of flowers and plants and consequently the development of employment in this sector, but unfortunately, despite the potential talents in Iran, which is visible due to the dry and semi-arid climate, but its share in the world trade of flowers and ornamental plants, which amounts to several billion dollars annually, is insignificant. These problems, which have been pointed out for years, are a big obstacle for the optimal use of existing talents in the field of growing and exporting flowers and ornamental plants. There are few countries in the world that have climate diversity like Iran, so that there are seven thousand plant species in Iran, 10-27% of which are exclusive. Acknowledging the potential talents of Iran in the field of ornamental and medicinal plants by officials and experts shows that what potential talents are available to the general public in this land, which have remained hidden from the public and we have not been willing to take advantage of them in order to achieve our national goals. Suitable conditions in the cultivation of flowers and plants in Pakdasht city and its central part, due to the lack of economic development of these areas compared to other agricultural jobs, have caused employment and economic development in this area, so it is necessary to study in this field.