Land Fragmentation in Confronting to Sustainable Agricultural Development and Food Security in Iran

Abstract

Land resources have an impact on effective agricultural activity, as well as economic, social and political stability. Sustainable land management is essential to meeting the global challenge of securing soil and water resources that can support an ever increasing population. More efficient production processes and better environmental management systems can significantly reduce pollution and waste, and save water and other resources. Iran, as a major agricultural country in Middle East and North Africa region, has long been in the quest for food self-sufficiency, however the capability of its land and water resources to realize this goal is largely unknown. In these regards land fragmentation, traditional peasantry and small holdings / businesses as major types of agricultural production system in Iran, have been known as main barriers for accessing to increasing productivity and receiving to food self-sufficiency and security. The main aim of this study is recognizing origins, situations and effects of land fragmentation and small holdings in Iran and finding solutions for them. Main research type for doing this study is qualitative approach. Main locations of study were two provinces in Iran, namely Isfahan and South Khorasan provinces. Research finding indicate that several socio-economic, legislative, institutional, governance, political, individual, technical and technological barriers caused majority of this type in land utilization in Iran, and for improving this unfavorable situation we must find and utilize appropriate social, cultural, economic, physical and operational processes to these traditional land use patterns for accessing to sustainable development goals in agricultural production system in Iran.

Keywords

• Land fragmentation
• Small holdings
• Agricultural production system
• Iran

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