Investigating the Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on Poverty Reduction in Rural Areas of Kunduz Province, Afghanistan

Rural poverty is a complex and multifaceted problem that many developing countries face. This type of poverty is not only related to a lack of access to financial resources and insufficient income, but also depends on various economic and social factors. Identifying these factors and understanding their impact on the living conditions of rural inhabitants is crucial for designing effective programs and policies to alleviate poverty. In this context, this study aimed to identify and analyze the socio-economic factors affecting rural poverty reduction in Kunduz province. The statistical population of this research included all rural households in Kunduz Province. The primary data collection tool was a questionnaire, which, after assessing its validity and reliability, was distributed to 383 participants based on Cochran's formula and collected through a multi-stage sampling method. For data analysis, in addition to descriptive statistics, the coefficient of variation and multiple linear regression were used. The results indicated that among the economic factors influencing rural poverty reduction, the most significant consensus was related to variables such as investment in rural service jobs, the development of livestock farming in villages (raising economically viable animals), and the development of fish and poultry farms. Meanwhile, the establishment of local cooperatives in villages, access to public services for rural families, and education aimed at increasing the productivity of agricultural and non-agricultural products were recognized as some of the most important social factors affecting the reduction of rural poverty in Kunduz Province. Overall, the economic and social factors affecting the reduction of rural poverty explained approximately 55% of the total variance.