Managing the Challenges of Organic Agriculture Development in Rural Areas: An Analysis of Barriers and the Provision of Commercial Strategies in Mazandaran Province

Abstract

The development of organic agriculture, as a strategic pathway toward achieving environmental sustainability and food security, despite the high natural potential of Mazandaran Province, has been progressing slowly and is confronted with numerous challenges. The present study was conducted with the objective of managing the challenges of organic agriculture development in rural areas through analyzing existing barriers and proposing commercial strategies in Mazandaran Province. This research adopted a qualitative approach and employed thematic analysis. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 35 key stakeholders (farmers, local officials, agricultural extension experts, cooperative activists, and traders) in rural areas of Mazandaran Province. Participants were selected using purposive sampling combined with the snowball technique until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was carried out following the thematic analysis procedure of Braun and Clarke (2006). The analysis resulted in the identification of five main themes and fifteen subthemes. The principal challenges included: (1) technical–agronomic challenges (including insufficient knowledge, complex pest management, and the transition period); (2) economic–market challenges (including high production costs, lack of guaranteed purchasing mechanisms, and weaknesses in support systems); (3) institutional–governance challenges (including inter-organizational misalignment, complexity of certification processes, and fragmented regulations); (4) socio-cultural challenges (including resistance to change, generational gaps, and low social trust); and (5) infrastructural–ecological challenges (including fragmented farmlands, contamination of soil and water resources, and deficiencies in the supply chain). These challenges dynamically interact to form a “vicious cycle” that seriously impedes the expansion of organic cultivation. The proposed commercial strategies are grounded in the creation of an integrated business ecosystem centered on establishing financial guarantee institutions (such as guaranteed purchase funds) and facilitative organizations (such as the Provincial Organic Hub), alongside the development of provincial branding and commercial clusters. This approach, by emphasizing the participation of the private sector and cooperatives, reduces producers’ risk while enhancing supply chain transparency and access to high-value markets.