Cultivation pattern is one of the influential factors in the growth and development of the agricultural sector, which can help development of rural areas. Choosing the cultivation pattern is one of the main factors for increasing production productivity in agriculture. The optimum allocation of land and determination of suitable crops for each region, in order to prevent excessive consumption of inputs and reduce risks arising from insufficient food supply resources, can be achieved through scientific investigation of the factors influencing the cultivation pattern and by considering various indicators. Olive, as one of the oldest known plants, holds significant importance as a valuable food source due to its prolonged lifespan, adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, historical significance, and its high nutritional and health value, which have captivated societies for generations. The development plan for olive cultivation has emerged as a crucial program within the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad. Considerable portions of the country's budget have been allocated towards implementing this plan. In different regions of Golestan province and specifically in Minudasht city, the cultivation pattern has undergone transformative changes, shifting from conventional crops like cereals to olives. The main objective of this research is to investigate the consequences of implementing garden development plans in sloping lands on the progress of rural areas in Minudasht city. The present research utilizes a descriptive-analytical method, with data collection conducted through library and survey studies. The statistical population for this research encompasses supervisors of olive growers residing in the villages of Minudasht city. The studied area includes the villages of Chahal Chai district in Minudasht city. Seven villages (Qarah Cheshmeh, Mohammad Zaman Khan, Jangaldeh, Aramnaro, Lise, Mubarak Abad, Takht) were selected from this district due to the presence of olive gardens. The economic structure of the studied villages is primarily based on agriculture. The number of required questionnaires (sample size) was determined using the Cochran formula, according to which 157 households were selected. The independent variable in this research is the "development of olive groves," while the dependent variables consist of 44 items categorized into economic and social dimensions. These questions aim to explore the significant relationship between changes in cultivation patterns and social and economic development. Specifically, they assess components such as economic well-being, economic security, employment quality, participation rate, sustainability rate, and farmers' awareness of agricultural-related issues. To measure these factors, a Likert scale was employed with 44 multiple-choice items, administered before and after the implementation of the olive cultivation plan. The collected data was analyzed using factor analysis to examine and compare the main factors and assess their impact. Additionally, paired correlation t-tests were performed to measure the significance of the differences in economic and social indicators before and after the implementation of the olive cultivation plan. The research findings demonstrate significant improvements in all economic indicators (economic welfare, economic security, and quality of employment) compared to the pre-change cultivation period. However, in the case of social indicators (participation, sustainability, and farmers' awareness of agricultural issues), apart from the tendency to permanence index, the average scores of other social dimension indices have shown an upward trend. Notably, the index measuring farmers' awareness experienced the highest average increase following the cultivation pattern change. Furthermore, upon examining the status of indicators related to the cultivation pattern change, it is observed that the quality of employment indicator exhibits the highest average within the economic dimension, whereas the level of farmers' knowledge attains the highest average within the social dimension. Based on the research results, a significant relationship between olive cultivation and the village economy is established. The development of olive cultivation has positively impacted production growth and increased income for rural households. Consequently, it has bolstered economic well-being. The findings further indicate the stability of income, market stability, and increased production, all contributing to the enhanced economic standing of rural households. According to the research findings, it is possible to train farmers on the positive and negative effects of changes in cultivation patterns. Farmers can be introduced to the scientific principles of planting and harvesting to improve the efficiency of olive production. Additionally, utilizing cold-resistant varieties has been suggested.
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