Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Assistant professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran.
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the factors affecting farmer attitudes toward sustainable soil management. The statistical population (N=7931) included all the farmers in Divandarreh Township, Kurdistan Province, Iran. Using Cochran's sampling formula, the sample size was estimated at 126 and the respondents were selected using the stratified random sampling method. To enhance the reliability of research findings, 165 questionnaires were administered among the farmers, out of which 150 were ultimately completed for analysis by SPSS software. The questionnaire was used as the main research instrument whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was established by calculating Chronbach's Alpha Coefficient (α>0.7). Results of means comparisons showed significant differences in farmers' attitudes based on the two variables of participation in extension and training courses and holding non-farm occupations. Results of correlation analysis showed that farmer attitude was positively and significantly correlated with the respondents’ income level, previous farm work experience, farm size, level of education, access to mass media, concern for environmental issues, level of motivation for participating in environmental protection projects, and exposure to education-extension journals in the fields of agriculture and soil management but negatively and significantly correlated with number of land parcels owned. Also, the results of regression analysis showed that the three variables of income level, education level, and access to mass media explained 67.7% of the variance in the dependent variable (i.e., farmer attitude to sustainable soil management).
Keywords
- ریاحی، و، عزیزپور، ف، نوری، آ (۱۳۹۵). تحلیل سطح پایداری محیطی سکونتگاههای روستایی در شهرستان خرمدره. فصلنامه راهبردهای توسعه روستایی، جلد ۲، شماره ۲، صص 155-173.
- قلیزاده مقدم، م ت، عابدی سروستانی، ا، محبوبی، م ر (1397). عوامل موثر بر پذیرش باغکاری در اراضی شیبدار: مورد مطالعه شهرستانهای مینودشت و گالیکش استان گلستان. فصلنامه تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران، 2 (۴۹)، 251-262.
- کرانی، ز، شیری، ن، صالحی، ل (1393). نگرش کشاورزان استان کرمانشاه به عملیات حفاظت خاک. تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاوری ایران، دوره ۴۵، شماره ۱، صص 143-154.
- کلانتری، خ (1389). پردازش و تحلیل دادهها در پژوهشهای اجتماعی- اقتصادی با استفاده از نرمافزار SPSS . تهران: نشر فرهنگ صبا، ویرایش اول، چاپ چهارم.
- لطیفی، س، راحلی، ح، یادآور، ح، سعدی، ح (1396). شناسایی و تحلیل پیشرانهای توسعه کشاورزی حفاظتی در ایران. علوم ترویج و آموزش کشاورزی، 13(۱)، 105-125.
- نوری، ه، جمشیدی، ع، جمشیدی، م، هدایتی مقدم، ز، فتحی، ع (1393). بررسی عوامل موثر بر پذیرش اقدامات حفاظتی خاک، گامی در جهت توسعه پایدار کشاورزی (مطالعه موردی شهرستان شیروان و چرداول). مجله تحقیقات اقتصاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایران، دوره ۴۵، شماره ۱، صص 195-205.
- Ahmadvand, M. (2008). Perceptions toward sustainable agricultural practice: the case of potato farmers in Hamadan province, Iran. Journal of extension system, 24(1), Pp: 94-105.
- Armenise, E. Redmile-Gordon, M. A. Stellacci, A. M. Ciccarese, A. & Rubino, P. (2013). Developing a soil quality index to compare soil fitness for agricultural use under different managements in the Mediterranean environment. Soil and Tillage Research,130, 91-98.
- Banwart, S. (2011). Save our soils. Nature, 474 (7350), 151-152.
- Benites, J. Vaneph, S. & Bot, A. (2002). Conservation Agriculture planting concepts and harvesting good results, LEISA, Magazine, Vor, 18, No3.Pp: 104.
- DeLonge, M. S. Miles, A. & Carlisle, L. (2016). Investing in the transition to sustainable agriculture. Environmental Science & Policy, 55, 266-273.
- Dougill, A.J. Whitfield, S. Stringer, L. C. Vincent, K. Wood, B. T. Chinseu, E. L. Steward, P. & Mkwambisi, D. D. (2016). Mainstreaming conservation agriculture in Malawi: Knowledge gaps and institutional barriers. Journal of Environmental Management, (In Press), 1- 10.
- Fakoya, E. O. Agbonlahor, M. U. & Dipeolu, A. O. (2007). Attitude of women Farmers towards sustainable land management practices in South-westem Nigeria. World journal of Agricultural sciences, 3(4), Pp: 536-542.
- Farooq, M. & Siddique, K. H. M. (2015). Conservation agriculture: Concepts, brief history, and impacts on agricultural systems. In Farooq, M. and Siddique, K. H. M (Eds.) Conservation Agriculture (pp. 3-17). Springer International Publishing.
- Friedrich, T. Derpsch, R. & Kassam, A. H. (2012). Global overview of the spread of conservation agriculture. Field Actions Science Reports, 6, 1-7.
- Gangadharappa, H. V. Pramod, K. T. M. & Shiva, K. H. G. (2007). Gastric floating drug delivery systems: a review. Indian J. Pharm. Ed. Res. 41, Pp: 295–305.
- Giller, K. E. Witter, E. Corbeels, M. & Tittonell, P. (2009).Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: The heretics' view. Field Crops Research, 114(1), 23-34.
- Glab, T. & Kulig, B. (2008). Effect of mulch and tillage system on soil porosity under wheat (Triticum aestivum). Soil and Tillage Research, 99(2), 169-178.
- Hobbs, P. Sayre, K. & Gupta, R. (2008). The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 363(1491), 543-555.
- Kahlon, M. S. Lal, R. & Ann-Varughese, M. (2013). Twenty two years of tillage and mulching impacts on soil physical characteristics and carbon sequestration in Central Ohio. Soil and Tillage Research, 126, 151-158.
- Knowler, D. & Bradshaw, B. (2007) farming adoption of conservation agriculture: A review and synthesis of recent research, Food Policy, Volume 14, Issue 1, Pp: 25-48.
- Lugandu, S. (2012). Factors Influencing the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture by Smallholder Farmers in Karatu and Kongwa Districts of Tanzania. Presented at [1]REPOA’s 18th Annual Research Workshop held at the Kunduchi Beach Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Pp: 162.
- Lugandu, S. (2013). Factors influencing the adoption of conservation agriculture by smallholder farmers in Karatu and Kongwa districts of Tanzania. InREPOA’s18thannual research workshop held at the Kunduchi Beach Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Mokhtari Hesar, A. SHabanali Fami, H. Asadi,A. & Zareei, Dastgerdi, Z. (2010): An Analysis and Measurement of Rural Areas' Level of Access to Agricultural Services and Determination of Central Villages for the Delivery of Agricultural Services in Iran: A Case Study of Markazi District of Mianeh County, Journal of Village and Development, 13(3),85-104.
- Quintero-Angel, M. & González-Acevedo, A. (2018): Tendencies and challenges for the assessment of agricultural sustainability.Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 254, 273-281.
- Reicosky, D. C. & Saxton, K. E. (2007). The benefits of no-tillage. In Baker CJ, Saxton KE, Ritchie W.R, Chamen W.C.T, Reicosky D.C, Ribeiro M.F.S, Justice S.E., and Hobbs P, (Eds.). No-tillage seeding in conservation agriculture (pp. 11-20). England: CABI, Wallingford.
- Sadeghi, S.H. & Cerda, A. (2015). Soil erosion in Iran: Issues and solutions. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 17, EGU2015-15840-1.
- Sharma, L. K. Sharma, A. Chandargi, D. M. & Khurana, G. S. (2002): Farmers' characteristics and adoption of kharif maize technology. Indian Journal of Extension Education (India).
- Shetto, R. & Owenya, M. eds. (2007). Conservation agriculture as practised in Tanzania: three case studies. Nairobi. African Conservation Tillage Network, Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Pp: 11.
- Silva, J. L. Man, N. Shaffril, H. A. & Samah, B. A. (2011): Acceptance of sustainable agricultural practices: the case of crop farmers. American Journal of Agricultural and BiologicalScience. 6(2): 227-230.
- Tatlidil, F. F. Boz, I. & Tatlidil, H. (2009). Farmer's perception of sustainable agriculture and its determinants: A case study in Kahramanmaras Province of Turkey. Environmental Development Sustainable, 11, Pp: 1091-1106.
- Urushadze Tengizz, F. (2002). Soil in space and time: Realities and challenge for 21st century. Tailand: Key book of 17th WCSS.
- Vadivelu, A. & Kiran, B.R. (2013): Problems and Prospects of Agricultural Marketing in India: an Overview. International Journal of Agricultural and Food Science, Volume 3, No 3, 108-118
- Zulfiqar, F. & Thapa, G. B. (2017): Agricultural sustainability assessment at provincial level in Pakistan. Land Use Policy, 68, 492-502.
- Zulfikar Rahman, M. Mikuni, H. & Mostafizur Rahman, M. (2009). Towards sustainable farming development: The attitude of farmers in a selected area of Shimane prefecture, Japan. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 14(4), Pp: 19-33.
)