10.57647/ijamad.2025.1503.14

Pastoral Nomadism and Their Quality of Life: A Case Study from Ilam Province, Iran

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  • Ali Mahdavi*1,
  • Babak Alimirzaei1,
  • Mohamad Salavarzi2,
  • Samireh Saymohamadi3,
  1. Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ilam University, Iran
  2. Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of technical and Engineering, Ilam University, Iran
  3. Department of Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, Ilam University, Iran

Received: 13-12-2024

Revised: 22-05-2025

Accepted: 10-06-2025

Published in Issue 30-09-2025

Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Mahdavi, Babak Alimirzaei, Mohamad Salavarzi, Samireh Saymohamadi (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Mahdavi, A., Alimirzaei, B., Salavarzi, M., & Saymohamadi, S. (2025). Pastoral Nomadism and Their Quality of Life: A Case Study from Ilam Province, Iran. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.57647/ijamad.2025.1503.14
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Abstract

Pastoral nomadism is a lifestyle for more than 200,000 households in Iran. We examined the quality of life of the nomads (indigenous and non-indigenous) through a household survey in Ilam province. In this regard, we used documentary, questionnaire, and observational methods for data collection. A statistical sample of 70 households including 42 indigenous nomadic households and 28 non-indigenous nomadic households was determined based on Cochran's formula and selected by random stratified method. To investigate the quality of life of the selected nomads households 40 different indicators were considered into four main dimensions, including economic, socio-educational, and hygienic. In addition, some questions were considered as environmental dimensions to assess the environmental awareness of the sample nomadic households. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods including frequency, percentage, one-sample t-test, independent t-test, and logistic regression in SPSS V.16 software. The results revealed that the economic dimension for the total of indigenous and non-indigenous nomadic households is in a moderate situation while the status for hygienic and socio-educational dimensions is lower than the average and does not have a favorable situation. However, the mean of environmental awareness criteria was significantly higher than the base number three, indicating a relatively good environmental awareness status for indigenous and non-indigenous nomadic households. The results also showed that there is a significant difference in all three dimensions of the quality of life between indigenous and non-indigenous nomads at a 99% level. Based on the results of regression analysis the variables of economic status, hygienic status, socio-educational status, being indigenous, and the number of household members had the highest impact on the satisfaction and dissatisfaction of households with the nomadic lifestyles.

Keywords

  • Nomadic communities,
  • Livelihoods,
  • Quality of life dimensions,
  • Zagros regions,
  • Iran
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