Introduction: Today, institutionalization of agricultural activities in the form of agricultural organizations has become a basic need, especially in developing countries. Given the numerous challenges that modern agriculture faces, including climate change, depletion of natural resources, and the need to increase food production for a growing population, the establishment of agricultural organizations can serve as an effective and sustainable solution to improve the agricultural situation and livelihoods of farmers. Agricultural organizations can enhance cooperation among members while also boosting the productivity and quality of agricultural products through advisory, educational, and technical services. These institutions can provide access to new markets for producers by creating efficient supply chains. On the other hand, by delegating some responsibilities to agricultural organizations, government agencies can focus more on their core tasks and missions. This not only enhances government efficiency, but also reduces administrative and bureaucratic burdens. Ultimately, institutionalizing the agricultural activities through the agricultural organizations can contribute to sustainable rural development and alleviate poverty in rural areas.
 Materials and Methods: This study aimed at identifying the empowerment strategies for rice farmers in Guilan province of Iran. For this purpose, the Delphi method was used and the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods including SAW and TOPSIS were used to rank the identified strategies. Based on the results obtained, 34 strategies for empowering rice farmers were identified by experts through three stages of the Delphi method, which were categorized into two groups: intra-organizational strategies with three sub-categories and extra-organizational strategies with two sub-categories.
Results and Discussion: Based on the study results, the following strategies are of primary importance: the production of certain factory inputs by cooperatives, collective purchasing of inputs, procurement of equipment and parts for members, enhancing the management skills of rice cooperative members, providing low-interest credit for cooperatives by the government, and renewing licenses through cooperatives. The production of consumer inputs by cooperatives can help reduce production costs and cooperatives will be able to control the quality of products. The collective purchasing of inputs by cooperatives also increases bargaining power in the market and can lead to a decrease in the final price of products. Enhancing the management skills of members of rice cooperatives through continuous training and specialized advice can significantly impact the efficiency and productivity of these cooperatives. In addition, renewing licenses through cooperatives can streamline administrative processes and reduce bureaucracy. This measure can also provide greater job security for cooperative members and boost their motivation to be more active.
Conclusion and Suggestions: The solutions presented in this study not only help improve the performance of cooperatives, but can also have significantly positive impacts on the entire rice and agricultural industry. Furthermore, the government can facilitate better access to finance by offering low-interest credit to cooperatives. This can facilitate investments in new equipment, enhance infrastructure, and foster the development of innovative projects. Low-interest financial options can also motivate members to invest in improving their production methods. Ultimately, implementing these solutions requires cooperation between the government, NGOs, and the private sector. Supporting cooperatives should be considered as a key strategy in sustainable agricultural development and increasing farmers’ welfare. By strengthening cooperatives and enhancing their capabilities, it is possible to contribute to the economic and social growth of rural areas and ensure food security for the whole society.