:: Volume 33, Issue 148 (2-2015) ::
JHRE 2015, 33(148): 79-98 Back to browse issues page
The Role of Industrial Zones in Rural Development (Case study: Kuhpaye Industrial Zone, Isfahan County)
Abstract:   (9021 Views)

In the years after Islamic Revolution, establishment of industrial zones in rural areas has been considered as a policy for diversification of rural activities. Socio-economic structure of rural areas has been transformed by establishment of above mentioned industrial zones. The present paper has considered the consequences of industrial zones establishment in rural areas with special reference to Kuhpaye Industrial Zone. Kuhpaye Industrial Zone is located in Jabal rural district including 13 villages. This district has been faced with emigration process. The main aims of research has been analyzing the role of Kuhpaye Industrial Zone in creation of job opportunities, increasing income, reducing rural-urban migration process and finally socio-economic development of rural area. Therefore the main questions of research have been as follows: Has establishment of Kuhpaye Industrial Zone created job and income opportunities? Has it resulted to reducing rural –urban emigration? Has it led to socio-economic development of the area? Required data has been collected through field study including observation, interview, completing questionnaire and some documents. 205 questionnaires have been completed by the research sample society which has been selected randomly. Collected data has been analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS. There has been a negative relation between Kuhpaye Industrial Zone and agricultural activities as a whole (farming & animal husbandry) in the area, because firstly, agricultural and grass lands are mostly devoted to industrial land use, Secondly, incomes  from agricultural activities are unable to compete with industrial wages. Therefore active human labor force is transformed to industrial sector.  Kuhpaye Industrial Zone has also changed the farm system pattern. This means that the previous farming system was labor intensive, including Cotton, sugar beets and cucurbits, but nowadays, the use of  agricultural technology has been increased as a result of human labor limitation, therefore, Beans, lentils and wheat are the main elements of farm system. The direction of population emigration has been chanced by established industrial zone. Before the industrial establishment, the population of these rural areas migrated to cities such as Isfahan and Tehran, but today, they are migrating to Kuhpaye which has led to Kuhpaye urban population growth and evacuation of some rural centers. Kupayeh urban population was 3653 in 1996 but has increased to 6000 in 2012. On the contrary, 53 villages have lost their population and this process is going to continue .The people of the area have been divided in two groups for accessing to services. The first group which is the employers of industrial units has access to educational, transport and welfare services. But farmers in villages have not suitable access to required services, most of them are unsatisfied.  Cultural characteristics of the area have been changed by Kuhpaye industrial established zone. Local dialect has been substituted by Persian language speaking traditional behavioral pattern has been changed. There was not any computer in the area until 2000, but currently a considerable number of rural households use computer at their homes. The findings show that establishment of this industrial zone has not reinforced the linkage between industrial and agricultural sectors. As a result, it has not led to animal husbandry and agricultural development. The economic effects of industrial zone establishment have been more than its social and cultural effects. Using durable consumption goods, changes in food consumption patterns, extension of participatory dimension, increasing job and better income opportunities, improving health services, and better access to education possibilities has been the important consequences of industrial zone in rural area. Due to establishment of industrial zone, emigration has reduced and persistence of rural population has been increased. Job opportunities and income of rural dwellers are increased and the region is moving towards economic and social development.

Keywords: Industrial Zones, Rural employment, Socio-economic development, Jabal District
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: سکونتگاههای شهری و روستایی
Received: 2013/05/25 | Accepted: 2014/06/2 | Published: 2015/02/8


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Volume 33, Issue 148 (2-2015) Back to browse issues page