Analysis of the effects of drought on resilience of rural livelihoods (Study Area: Barakouh, Mazhan and Khosf rural districts of Khosf County)

Securing livelihoods and reducing the risk of migration caused by the impact of external shocks on arid ecosystems is one of the essential requirements for ensuring human sustainability. Therefore, the approach to improve the resilience of rural livelihoods against drought is of particular importance. Accordingly, the present study based on descriptive- analytical methodology, examines the effects of drought on the livelihoods resilience of villagers. The research method is applied and based on library and field studies (through a researcher-made questionnaire). The statistical population includes 2168 households in Barakouh, Mazhan and Khosf rural districts of Khosf county. Based on Cochran formula with error of 0.07, 214 questionnaires were randomly distributed and completed by the villagers and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. The findings of the study indicated that the most impacted drought between livelihoods capitals occurred in two dimensions of institutional capital and natural capital with average of 2.83 and 2.76. There is also a significant relationship between the two variables; affecting the resilience of livelihoods capitals from drought and its perception by residents and people's residential background. The results of ANOVA test showed no difference between group and within groups with a history of residence in drought susceptibility except for the two dimensions of economic and natural capital. The results of the Tukey test showed that in the two dimensions of financial and natural capital, a different mean of drought impacts can be observed based on residential history.