Analysis of the Effects of Industrial Estate Activities on Development in Surrounding Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Howeumeh Rural District, Abhar County

Rural development in developing countries is considered one of the important and key objectives of planning, and the establishment of industrial estates as one of the productive economic sectors can play an effective role in reducing inequalities between urban and rural areas. The present study was conducted with the aim of examining the extent of the impact of industrial estates on rural poverty. This research is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature. The required data were collected using library and field methods, a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire, and observation. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including the one-sample t-test, Pearson correlation, Kruskal–Wallis test, and structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the study consisted of households in the Central Rural District of Abhar County, which, according to the 2016 census, included 23 villages, three of which were uninhabited. Based on Cochran’s formula, 393 households were selected as the sample. The results of the one-sample t-test showed that most dimensions of the effects of industrial estates and poverty, except for some social and physical dimensions, were below the desirable level and were significant at the 95% confidence level. Furthermore, the results of Pearson correlation indicated a significant and negative relationship between the effects of industrial estates and poverty; thus, an increase in the effects of industrial estates leads to a reduction in rural poverty. The results of structural equation modeling also showed that the social (0.915) and physical (0.806) dimensions had the greatest effects on poverty in the studied villages. Accordingly, the managed development of industrial estates can contribute to improving rural conditions.
 
Extended Abstract
 
Introduction
Rural development is one of the fundamental objectives of planning in developing countries, pursued with the aim of reducing the gap between urban and rural areas and improving the quality of life. Inequalities in investment, employment, education, and services between these two areas have intensified rural–urban migration, expanded poverty, increased unemployment, and reduced the economic and social sustainability of rural areas. Therefore, diversification of economic activities and the creation of non-agricultural employment opportunities have been considered as effective strategies for poverty reduction and empowerment of rural communities. In this regard, industrial development and the establishment of industrial estates can play an important role in rural development by creating employment, increasing income, attracting investment, strengthening economic linkages, and reducing dependence on traditional agriculture. In addition to controlling the irregular distribution of industrial activities, industrial estates provide opportunities for optimal resource utilization, increasing added value, and improving the welfare of local communities. Abhar County in Zanjan Province, due to its suitable geographical location and industrial capacities, has witnessed the expansion of industrial estates and an increasing role of the industrial sector in the regional economy in recent years. With six industrial estates and the creation of more than 15,700 employment opportunities, this county is considered one of the industrial hubs of the province. Given the importance of industrial estates in the economic and social transformations of surrounding areas, the present study was conducted to analyze and explain the effects of industrial estate establishment on poverty and rural development in the Central Rural District of Abhar County. It seeks to examine the level of rural poverty, the relationship between the establishment of industrial estates and poverty, and the extent of the impact of these estates on the economic dimensions of the studied area.
 
Methodology
The present study is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature and method, conducted with a structural approach. Data were collected through library and field studies using questionnaires. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient in SPSS. The alpha coefficients were 0.832 for the poverty questionnaire and 0.925 for the industrial estate effects questionnaire, indicating acceptable reliability. The effects of industrial estates were evaluated in four dimensions (economic, social, physical, and environmental) using 50 indicators, while rural poverty was assessed through the same four dimensions using 30 indicators. The statistical population consisted of households in the Central Rural District of Abhar County, including 23 villages, 2,007 households, and 5,962 people. Based on Cochran’s formula, 393 households were selected through simple random sampling. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including the one-sample t-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Pearson correlation, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS software.
 
Results and Discussion
The establishment of industrial estates in the studied rural settlements has generated multidimensional consequences with both positive and negative effects. The greatest impacts have been observed in physical and social dimensions, while economic and environmental outcomes remain less favorable. Changes in land and housing prices, rural construction patterns, infrastructure improvement, increased awareness, lifestyle changes, and greater motivation for acquiring technical skills are among the main effects. However, the limited employment of local labor shows that the potential of industrial estates for creating jobs has not been fully realized, emphasizing the need for specialized training and the empowerment of rural human resources. Social and environmental challenges, including limited education, weak participation, pollution risks, and the need for proper resource management, highlight the importance of integrated planning. The findings of the structural equation model confirmed a significant negative relationship between industrial estate effects and rural poverty, with a path coefficient of -0.534, indicating that increased positive impacts of industrial estates contribute to poverty reduction. Therefore, industrial estates can support rural development if accompanied by policies aimed at strengthening local employment, skills development, social participation, and environmental protection.
 
Conclusion
Overall, the results of field investigations showed that there is a strong negative relationship between industrial estates and poverty in the studied area, and that industrial estates have affected all dimensions of poverty; however, the extent of these effects varies according to the distance of villages from the industrial estates. Closer villages, such as Nourin, Qorveh, Qamchabad, and Hisar Qajar, have experienced the greatest impacts. In the economic dimension, industrial estates have contributed to employment creation, occupational diversification, increased income, rising land and housing prices, and greater access to financial and insurance services. However, the use of local labor has remained limited, and challenges such as water shortages and the weakening of agricultural activities persist. More distant villages have experienced fewer economic impacts and remain more dependent on agricultural activities.In the social dimension, industrial estates have increased public awareness and expectations. In closer villages, improvements in educational and health services have contributed to population retention, whereas insufficient services in more distant villages have increased migration, particularly among young people. In terms of the physical dimension, closer villages have benefited more from improvements in housing, implementation of development projects, infrastructure expansion, and increased public services, while more distant villages have experienced fewer changes. In the environmental dimension, the effects of industrial estates have been largely negative, with closer villages facing challenges such as noise pollution, industrial waste, reduced air quality, agricultural land contamination, and declining groundwater resources. In contrast, more distant villages have experienced fewer environmental impacts, although water scarcity remains the most important common challenge in the region.