Social Business Journal

Social Business Journal

Analysis and Explanation of a Sustainable Business Model for Lime Orchards in Rudan County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammadreza Sayadi 1
leila Shariatyniya 2
Vahid Payravand 1
1 Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions Group, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
10.22059/jsbu.2025.394173.1020
Abstract
The horticulture industry, particularly citrus production, plays a pivotal role in diversifying Iran’s non-oil revenues. This research aimed to elucidate a sustainable exploitation model for lime orchards in Rudan County, Hormozgan province, Iran. Employing a qualitative research design was established in the Strauss and Corbin systematic approach to grounded theory. The studied population comprised lime production experts and specialists, selected via snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved (after 16 interviews). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using three-stage coding (220 open codes, 77 axial codes, and 23 selective codes). the research validity was confirmed through expert validation, and reliability was established using the test-retest method. The findings identified five core components: causal conditions including environmental and ecological challenges, infrastructural and technological deficiencies, managerial and knowledge-related problems, and economic, supportive, and social challenges; contextual conditions encompassing environmental-climatic, socio-economic, agricultural management, institutional-governance frameworks, and resource-related factors; intervening conditions including economic and financial challenges, institutional and governance barriers, socio-cultural issues, supportive and technical weaknesses; strategies including optimizing agricultural management, developing markets and value-added products, providing institutional and financial support, and enhancing knowledge and participatory planning and implementation; and consequences including sustainable development of lime orchards, strengthening local and social identity, environmental protection, and local economic development. The proposed model underscores the need for integrated solutions such as developing modern irrigation systems, strengthening the value chain through processing industries, and establishing participatory local institutions.
Keywords
Food Security
Grounded Theory
Sustainable Knowledge
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