Investigating Desertification and its Effects on the Living Conditions of Farmers (Case Study: Agricultural Lands Around the City Of Sorkheh).

Today, the expansion of human activities in nature has exposed large areas of the country to desertification, which has caused widespread negative economic, social, and cultural consequences. This research aimed to investigate desertification and its effects on the living conditions of the farmers of Sorkheh city. The statistical population included the farmers and the sample size was determined using Cochran's formula 97 questionnaires were completed and comparing residents' attitudes was used to analyze the items and components of the research. Also, information and quantitative data related to rainfall, temperature, underground water status, agricultural land surface, income, and number of livestock of farmers were collected and prepared and used to investigate the occurrence of desertification, complete and analyze the results. According to the results, in the last two decades, the amount of rainfall has decreased, the temperature has increased, the level of underground water has decreased, and the area of land suitable for agriculture has decreased. According to the opinion of 86.6% of the statistical sample, desertification can be seen in the form of qualitative and quantitative reduction of underground water resources, reduction of access to surface water, soil salinity, reduction of the fertility of agricultural lands, and reduction of vegetation mainly in the area. Also, the effect of desertification on the economic and socio-cultural status of the studied community has an average attitude of 3.27 (attitude: moderate) and 2.80 (moderate attitude), respectively. According to the results, the most important socio-cultural and economic effects of desertification on the living of Sarkheh farmers are the decrease in the willingness of farmers' children to marry, the reduction in the willingness of farmers to continue farming, the increase in immigration, the increase in unemployment, the decrease in the area of agricultural land and the decrease in farmers' income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]