The effect of social capital in mitigating drought impacts and improving livability of Iranian rural households

The improvement of rural households' livability in drought conditions has always been an impor-tant challenge for all countries, especially developing countries, because consecutive droughts have reduced the resilience of these households and may even inflict irreparable damages to rural and agricultural communities if there are no systems in place for mitigating the risk of drought. This research explored the effects of social capital on the livability of rural families in Iran. The statistical population was composed of all rural-farmer families in Kerman province in the south-east of Iran. The study site was selected based on the severity of droughts. The results show that the studied households are not at an optimal level in livability indices and past droughts have se-verely reduced their livability level. If no comprehensive plan is adopted for drought manage-ment in the coming years, most villages in the southeast of Iran will be desolated. Furthermore, it is revealed that the dimension of social capital (social awareness, participation and collective ac-tion, membership in groups, social trust, and social participation) can account for 74.1% of the variance in rural households' livability in drought conditions. In general, the results can provide policymakers with new insights into how to supply conditions for the sustainability of rural fami-lies' livelihood in drought conditions.

Automated summary

Improving the livability of rural households in drought conditions is a significant challenge, particularly for developing countries. This study examines the impact of social capital on the livability of rural families in Iran. The findings show a decrease in livability due to past droughts, and without comprehensive drought management plans, many villages in southeast Iran may become deserted. Moreover, the dimensions of social capital can explain 74.1% of the variations in rural households' livability during drought conditions. Overall, these results provide policymakers with insights for ensuring sustainable livelihoods for rural families during droughts.