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Rastgar S, Nematpour A A, Ataie Solout K. Asseissing Economic and Employment Potential of Ferula gummosa Boiss: A Case Study from Firoozkooh County's Range Management Plan. مرتع 2027; 20 (2)
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1319-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1319-en.html
Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natrual Reaouces University
Abstract: (38 Views)
Abstract
Background and objective: The economic analysis of medicinal plant utilization in rural areas and its impact on employment and income generation in Firuzkuh, Iran, focuses on how these plants contribute to local economies, enhance job opportunities, and improve livelihoods for residents. The diversification of economic activities in the utilization of rangelands, such as the appropriate exploitation of medicinal plants, plays a significant role in economic diversity, job creation, income generation, improvement of socio-economic conditions, and sustainable development of local communities. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the economic efficiency and compare the annual income of the summer rangelands of Shahrabad in Firuzkuh regarding traditional livestock and non-livestock exploitations, examining the level of job creation for local residents in the year 1399-1400 (2020-2021).
Methodology: The study area is a mountainous watershed, called Balade-Nour, located in the Mazandaran Province, Nour city of Balade district. The watershed area is 1299.78 km2. The research method employed is a survey-descriptive approach using a questionnaire as a tool. Data were collected via a census of 30 stakeholders from the village of Shahrabad and users of (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) using structured surveys administered in face-to-face interviews. To calculate the internal consistency of the research tool, Cronbach's alpha statistic was used. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by consulting with relevant professors on the subject. Data collection was then carried out through interviews, observations, and the completion of field questionnaires. To assess the financial situation of ranchers and the economic evaluation of (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) the integrated range management plan implemented (RMP) in the study area and the benefit-cost (B/C) method were used. To estimate the income-generating capacity from integrated (RMP), the employment generation index was utilized. In inferential statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality of the variables, and the one-sample T-test was employed to address the research hypotheses.
Results: The results showed that 70% of the stakeholders were solely engaged in ranching. In the (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) exploitation, 20 specialized workers, both local and non-local, were involved in the collection of the sap. By producing medicinal plants—notably Ferula gummosa for its sap—across a potential 150-hectare area, the current rangeland has increased net income per hectare by a factor of 10.2 compared to livestock farming, thereby greatly improving local socioeconomic welfare. According to the obtained results, the production of sap was 3,105 kilograms, with a yield of 21 kilograms per hectare. The total employment coefficient was calculated to be 7.08 person-days per kilogram of sap exploited during the 90-day annual season. This labor input, expressed on an annualized basis, equals 1.76 person-years per kilogram, representing approximately 35% of a single worker's annual labor capacity. The economic evaluation of livestock farming indicated that the total costs and revenues of livestock farming were 22,765,900 and 39,690,000 thousand rials, respectively, with an average profit of 3,335,361 rials per hectare per year. The comparison of the net profit ratio of this activity and the Ferula gummosa exploitation showed that it is 10.2 times higher, which is a significant ratio. Additionally, in the economic evaluation, the benefit-cost (B/C) ratio for livestock farming was calculated to be 1.16, while the benefit-cost (B/C) ratio for Ferula gummosa exploitation was calculated to be 2.1, indicating greater profitability for this type of exploitation.
Conclusion: Given the importance of the medicinal plant (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) in the multifunctional use of ragelands within various integrated plans and its role in creating employment for local communities, this study aimed to evaluate the economic aspects of ranchers and the exploitation of the Ferula gummosa using the obtained data. According to the results, the income generation and net profit per hectare from Ferula gummosa is 10.2 times higher than that from livestock farming, which is a significant ratio. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that, while exploiting this plant based on ecological principles, it plays an important role in the local economy and employment.
Background and objective: The economic analysis of medicinal plant utilization in rural areas and its impact on employment and income generation in Firuzkuh, Iran, focuses on how these plants contribute to local economies, enhance job opportunities, and improve livelihoods for residents. The diversification of economic activities in the utilization of rangelands, such as the appropriate exploitation of medicinal plants, plays a significant role in economic diversity, job creation, income generation, improvement of socio-economic conditions, and sustainable development of local communities. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the economic efficiency and compare the annual income of the summer rangelands of Shahrabad in Firuzkuh regarding traditional livestock and non-livestock exploitations, examining the level of job creation for local residents in the year 1399-1400 (2020-2021).
Methodology: The study area is a mountainous watershed, called Balade-Nour, located in the Mazandaran Province, Nour city of Balade district. The watershed area is 1299.78 km2. The research method employed is a survey-descriptive approach using a questionnaire as a tool. Data were collected via a census of 30 stakeholders from the village of Shahrabad and users of (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) using structured surveys administered in face-to-face interviews. To calculate the internal consistency of the research tool, Cronbach's alpha statistic was used. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by consulting with relevant professors on the subject. Data collection was then carried out through interviews, observations, and the completion of field questionnaires. To assess the financial situation of ranchers and the economic evaluation of (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) the integrated range management plan implemented (RMP) in the study area and the benefit-cost (B/C) method were used. To estimate the income-generating capacity from integrated (RMP), the employment generation index was utilized. In inferential statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality of the variables, and the one-sample T-test was employed to address the research hypotheses.
Results: The results showed that 70% of the stakeholders were solely engaged in ranching. In the (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) exploitation, 20 specialized workers, both local and non-local, were involved in the collection of the sap. By producing medicinal plants—notably Ferula gummosa for its sap—across a potential 150-hectare area, the current rangeland has increased net income per hectare by a factor of 10.2 compared to livestock farming, thereby greatly improving local socioeconomic welfare. According to the obtained results, the production of sap was 3,105 kilograms, with a yield of 21 kilograms per hectare. The total employment coefficient was calculated to be 7.08 person-days per kilogram of sap exploited during the 90-day annual season. This labor input, expressed on an annualized basis, equals 1.76 person-years per kilogram, representing approximately 35% of a single worker's annual labor capacity. The economic evaluation of livestock farming indicated that the total costs and revenues of livestock farming were 22,765,900 and 39,690,000 thousand rials, respectively, with an average profit of 3,335,361 rials per hectare per year. The comparison of the net profit ratio of this activity and the Ferula gummosa exploitation showed that it is 10.2 times higher, which is a significant ratio. Additionally, in the economic evaluation, the benefit-cost (B/C) ratio for livestock farming was calculated to be 1.16, while the benefit-cost (B/C) ratio for Ferula gummosa exploitation was calculated to be 2.1, indicating greater profitability for this type of exploitation.
Conclusion: Given the importance of the medicinal plant (Ferula gummosa Boiss.) in the multifunctional use of ragelands within various integrated plans and its role in creating employment for local communities, this study aimed to evaluate the economic aspects of ranchers and the exploitation of the Ferula gummosa using the obtained data. According to the results, the income generation and net profit per hectare from Ferula gummosa is 10.2 times higher than that from livestock farming, which is a significant ratio. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that, while exploiting this plant based on ecological principles, it plays an important role in the local economy and employment.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/04/23 | Accepted: 2026/02/22 | Published: 2027/03/1
Received: 2025/04/23 | Accepted: 2026/02/22 | Published: 2027/03/1
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