Socio-Economic Problems of Gardeners: A Multiple Response Analysis from North of Iran

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted in order to find out the socio-economic problems of gardening in Guilan province, north of Iran. This study was carried out by descriptive survey at March 2011. Target population was formed from 21 actuary experts of gardeners that sample size was including 17 experts. Questionnaire was used as the main tool to collect data with two open questions. Data was analyzed using the multi-response analysis. The results showed that low education of most gardeners and high price of agricultural inputs and low access to them were at top of socio-economic issues represented by experts. Besides, issues such as thoughts of traditional among gardeners, lack of sufficient information regarding gardening and garden keeping among gardeners, migration of rural gardeners especially the young to city and job change, gardening is not affordable economically (low income) and low sell price and in some cases, pre-sales of garden products were among the most important socio-economic problems presented by experts .