Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Iran's rural economy has a decisive role in the whole community for various reasons such as food security and export production supplying, contribution in GDP and value added. As well, it is highly responsible to create the occupation and income opportunities for the rural communities and organize the socio-economic situations in rural areas. This study purposes to assess the floriculture impacts, as a relatively new farming activity in the Lalehzar district rural community of Bardsir township in the Kerman province. Statistical population is rural resident households in four villages of Lalehzar. 250 persons were randomly sampled and interviewed in order to gather the needed primary data. Secondary data required by referring the documentations. The self-organized questionnaire was pretested in order to assess its reliability and realize the main variables variation to estimate the size of the sample. After the statistical description of the sample properties and research variables, further inferential analysis was carried out by employing factor analysis and varimax rotation. Results indicated that the most important impact of the floriculture activity has been shifting the farming systems of the region towards the sustainability which is considered as an environmental impact. Social impacts, mainly in promoting the rural women's socio-economic status has been the next major consequence, following the economical impacts such as employment and income earning opportunities provided via lateral activities. Existence of a lot of environmental and peripherals conditions, promises development and a more effective role for continuing this activity at the future of the study area.