Developing Optimal Mechanisms for Rural Women's Participation in Medicinal Plant Businesses with an Entrepreneurial Approach in Ilam Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Rural Development, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran.

Abstract

Ilam Province, with its rich natural resources and diverse vegetation, has a high potential for developing entrepreneurial businesses in the field of medicinal plants. Rural women, particularly household heads, play a crucial role in utilizing these resources and can become key economic drivers in the region through an entrepreneurial approach. Developing optimal mechanisms for their participation can foster social empowerment, reduce unemployment, and promote sustainable livelihoods. This research was conducted to identify obstacles and design entrepreneurial solutions to enhance women’s participation in medicinal plant businesses in Ilam Province. A qualitative approach using the grounded theory paradigm was employed to identify effective entrepreneurial mechanisms. The primary data collection tool was semi-structured interviews, conducted with 19 participants until theoretical saturation was achieved. The results revealed that the most significant challenges faced by rural women included: the adverse effects of sanctions on business (such as the multiple increases in the prices of seeds and inputs), lack of support from government institutions for rural women’s enterprises, limited access to higher education and career advancement, opposition from family and relatives to starting a business, difficulties commuting from villages to cities during different seasons, prioritization of wheat cultivation limiting space for medicinal plants, physical health risks due to the pressures of heavy labor, absence of guaranteed purchase policies for medicinal plants, and challenges in accessing government loans and credits. To address these obstacles, nine mechanisms were identified and categorized within the Strauss and Corbin model: economic mechanisms, social mechanisms, cultural-scientific mechanisms, personal-psychological mechanisms, legal-legal mechanisms, policy-making mechanisms, support mechanisms, equipment mechanisms, and environmental-geographical mechanisms. These mechanisms provide a structured framework for promoting women’s participation and advancing medicinal plant entrepreneurship in the region.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 29 October 2025

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