Assessing the Sustainability Level of Agricultural Farming Systems by Using Indicators in Azarbaijan Province
Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension and Education Research
Keywords: Indicators of Sustainability, Agricultural Development, West Azerbaijan,
Abstract :
The purpose of this research was to determine level of agricultural sustainability by the means of a set of indicators. In assessing sustainability, the authors applied the sustainability indicator’ recommended by IDEA (Indicators of Sustainability of Agriculture) taking accountability method importanct we have adjusted based on agriculture experts opinions, according to agriculture provisions in Iran. The results of the study showed that crop diversity is the most sustainable aspect of environment dimension of agriculture. The least sustainable facts of agriculture in environment dimension are use of pesticides and water shortage. Hence percentage of sustainability index (36%) is too low for environment dimension of agricultural development. Results revealed that the main problem associated with economic dimension of agricultural sustainability was land size, agricultural employment. According to the indicators agricultural production and income levels are relatively stable (52%) than the other dimension. This was the small mixed farm where the premiums to be obtained from sale of products enabled it to become more economically viable. Among social indicators, farmer’s awareness of resource conservation was one of the critical issue, Hence based on all of indicators percentage of sustainability index (35.90%) is too low for social dimension of agricultural development.