Analysis of the Actors’ Communication Network in Knowledge and Innovation System of Handmade Silk Carpet Industry in Rural Areas of Zanjan Province

Authors
E. Ahmadifard 1
H. Farhadian 1
E. Karamidehkordi 1
H. Shabanali Fami 2
1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2 Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
10.48311/jast.2025.24121
Abstract
This research was conducted to study the communication network of carpet weavers within the Knowledge and Innovation System (KIS) of handmade silk carpet production in rural areas. Data were gathered through interviews with 270 rural households in Zanjan Province, specifically in the Tarom, Khodabandeh, and Zanjan counties in Iran, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Social Network Analysis (SNA) in UCINET was employed to examine the interactions among these actors, and graphical representations were created using Net Draw. The results revealed that the network's density varied across different levels, showing weakness in some cases, moderate strength in others, and strong connections in select instances. The findings suggest that interactions within the network of handmade silk carpet weavers are predominantly confined to local connections. Given that production occurs under a family-owned production system, and weavers acquire their skills from Family Members (FMs) or other individuals in their villages, their interactions are primarily concentrated on these "FMs" and Weavers in the same Neighborhood, Village, or with Kinship Relations (WNVKRs). Therefore, considering the status of the weavers' communication network and its importance in the knowledge and innovation system, it is suggested that communication between the weavers and other key actors is established through training courses, workshops, festivals and such programs. Thus, the weavers learn the roles and duties of other actors in the hand-woven carpet production chain and can refer to them when needed.

Keywords

Subjects

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 27, Issue 5
July and August 2025
Pages 1001-1016