Özet:

As the saffron crocus with its aromatic flavor and chemical properties is a plant which Eco gastronomy, tourism, pharmacy sciences and art focused on, it also attracts national and international markets’ attention. Producer provides foreign exchange to its country since saffron is an international merchandise. Aim of this study is to study reasons of saffron farming by family farmers within “Gaen” region in “Southern Khorasan” of Iran and to examine socio-economic changes resulting from the saffron farming.  Moreover, the topic that which species the family farmers want to grow in arid climates in terms of sustainable tourism activities shall also be researched. In this study, a questionnaire is applied to family farmers growing saffron, to determine their opinions. 389 attendants from “Gaen” answered the questionnaire. In the analysis of questionnaires, SPSS 16 is used. As a result of this research, it is found that saffron has a positive socio-economic effect on family farmers. Indeed, family farmers dealing with saffron farming reached very positive consequences such as improvement in their experiences, in their educational levels and having high – quality benefits from health services and women gaining their economic freedoms, etc. Furthermore, family farmers support desert tourism, eco gastronomy tourism, and cultural tourism activities to improve within the region. 

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