Developing of Dry-Bed Rice Seeding in Khuzestan Province: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT), Iran

The purpose of this research survey and descriptive study was to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of dry-bed rice seeding development in Khuzestan province, and provide strategies to develop dry-bed rice seeding cultivation. The statistical populations were all farmers of Ahwaz and Mahshahr township, which were engaged in dry-bed rice cultivation. From them 180 farmers were selected as sample using Cochran’s formula and stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and to provide strategies to develop dry-bed rice the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) matrix was used. Based on the results, reducing in time in dry-bed rice seeding cultivation, reducing in need for labor and low water consumption were important strengths; increasing in weeds growing was the important weakness; The development of culture in favorable soil was the important opportunity and roughness of the farming land and There are environmental threats were important threat of dry-bed rice seeding cultivation.By analyzing the strategic factors, based on common rules in the analysis of SWOT If the average of the weaknesses and threats is less than average strengths, opportunities (WT < SO), Strategy that can be proposed offensive and If the total average of the Weaknesses, opportunities is less than average Strengths and threats (WO<ST), conservative strategies  is proposed strategy for development of dry-bed rice seeding cultivation