The Role of Family Farming System on Sustainable Rural Development (Case Study: Ghir & Karzin County - Fars Province)

Extended Abstract

Introduction
Agriculture is the basis of all 'human' wealth amongst nations, and without food no human community could really have function. The fall of civilizations have been attributed to degrading food producing systems. But there are people who have evolved sustainable agricultural practice. According to Agenda 21, the concept of sustainability is multidimensional. It includes ecological and social, as well as economic ones. Between these different elements, there is an interdependency. Research results indeed confirm that the relationships are strong, numerous and complex. Strengthening the economic viability of rural areas is a basis for providing the means of preserving their social and environmental functions. Economic, social and environmental objectives can to a certain degree develop synergies. However, they are not always mutually supportive; and they can even compete with each other. Where this is the case, the concept of sustainability refers to the need to strike the right balance between its three elements. Political choices concerning one out of these three elements must at least ensure that certain minimum standards with respect to the other two are observed. Mainly the structural, technical and commercial aspects of family farming have been investigated up to now, while the many natural points of communality family farming shares with the concept of sustainable rural development have not been extensively explored. Thus the emphasis on research in exploitation of agricultural systems, that mainly implement after land reform in Iran one of the key pillars of sustainable development studies in rural areas. The present article pays, the role of farming system - operating farm (family) in rural sustainable development Ghir & Karzin city in Fars province.

Methodology
In this study, at first step all of the villages of this province in which the agriculture is common, are classified with conventional development indicators. The studied villages are selected through samples. To determine the role of family farming system in sustainable development of rural areas first comparing with indicators relating to operating systems agriculture, rural development and sustainable development indicators were extracted from common indicators, and among the three indicators of food security, participation and use of native criteria established. Then, in addition to census data in the public, some items of information are collected through a field study and complement questionnaires, and finally the data were analyzed by using statistical methods.

Results and Discussion
The results show that family farming system has a direct relationship with rural sustainable development and in sustainable rural development in Ghir & Karzin, can play an important role. Social implications result from the provision of rural employment opportunities, the diversification of economic activities and the promotion of local products, services, craft activities and agri-tourism. Preserving environmental quality is also a precondition for developing a lasting economic potential in rural areas. The ecological integrity and the scenic value of rural landscapes are key ingredients for making rural areas attractive for enterprise settlements, as a place to live, and for the tourism and recreation business.

Conclusion
There is a convergence between the notion and the implementation of sustainable rural development and some key features of the modern organic movement. Yet, in agricultural and rural studies, the active creation and reinforcement of a productivist / post-productivist dualism has emerged as a means of explaining the uneven development of rural areas. Process of development is functional of internal and external economic & ecological & social factors, (political &cultural) of any society. Because agricultural sector of any of rural societies is based on operating farming systems, so their changes in the impact of agricultural structures float. At the time being preparing food and producing agricultural products to meet the food needs of growing population and food security is considered as one of the requirements to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, accurate recognition of operation farming systems can be exploited in sustainable rural development and can play an important role.