Impact of socio-economic characteristics on farmer's attitude and access to the information to adopt and utilize irrigation systems in Lorestan province, Iran

Subject Areas :

Mohammad Abdolmaleki ¹ (Assistant Professor in Agricultural Extension and Education, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad Branch.)
mohammad Chizari ² (Professor in Agricultural Extension and Education, Tarbiat Modares University.)

Received: 2008-07-28 Accepted : 2009-01-22 Published : 2009-08-23

Keywords: Attitude, Irrigation Systems, Access to technical information, Adoption and utilization,

Abstract :

In this study, farmer's attitude and the extent of their access to technical information to adopt and utilize irrigation systems have been studied. Statistical sample in this study was drown randomly from 220 farmers adopting the irrigation systems in their farms. A number of  140 farmers were selected through classified sampling. This study is a kind of descriptive-correlation research which has been accomplished through questionnaire and interview. Face and content validity of the questionnaire were stablished using a panel of experts consisting of faculty members in the department of agriculture at Khoramabad Islamic Azad university. The questionnaire was field-tested and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for attitude and the extent of access to technical  information  questions  was calculated using software SPSS (α=84%). The results obtained from calculating correlations between variables showed positive and statistically significant relations between the farmer's attitude regarding adoption of irrigation systems and the amount of irrigated land ownership, the amount of the land which is irrigated by these systems,  increase in value of water, kind of educational programs, and obstacles associated with utilization. Moreover, there is positive and statistically significant relations between the extent of access to technical information and educational level, main job, performance, effective factors in utilization of systems, implementing educational programs, agent’s visits, agent’s implemented programs, and problems and obstacles associated with utilization. Stepwise multiple regression, indicated that the amount of irrigated land ownership, the amount of the land which is irrigated by these systems, increase in value of water, obstacles associated with utilization explained a statistically significant portion of variance (R square = 48.3) for the farmer's attitude regarding adoption of irrigation systems. Moreover, stepwise multiple regression indicated that educational level, performance, effective factors in utilization of systems and obstacles associated with utilization explained a statistically significant portion of variance (R square = 43.1) for the extent of access to technical information regarding adoption and utilization of irrigation systems.  Thus, farmer's socio-economic and  job characteristics, which exist in every zone, must be analyzed  and  in order to adoption and development of utilization of irrigation technologies, useful educational and technical programs must be planed and implemented.

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