Typology of Experts' Attitudes on Constraints of Conservation Agriculture Development (A Q Methodology )

Subject Areas : Optimizing water consumption

Shahpar Geravandi ¹ , Fereshte Moradi ² , Mohamad Hossein Babaei ³

1 - Assistant Professor and Faculty Member، Department of Agricultural Extension and Education، Faculty of Agriculture، Razi University، Kermanshah
2 - Master student، Department of Agricultural Extension and Education، Faculty of Agriculture، Razi University، Kermanshah، Iran
3 - PhD student، Department of Agricultural Extension and Education، Faculty of Agriculture، Razi University، Kermanshah، Iran

Received: 2021-08-30 Accepted : 2021-09-13 Published : 2021-09-21

Keywords: Conservation agriculture, Q methodology, soil erosion,

Abstract :

In recent years، conservation agriculture has emerged as a multidimensional approach to the sustainable use of water and soil resources and the achievement of sustainable development goals. Despite the efforts، development process of this approach is slow and faces many obstacles. In the present study، an attempt was made to examine the obstacles to the development of conservation agriculture from the mental dimension of the experts of the Research Center. The target population was the experts of Sararud Research Center in Kermanshah in 2019-2020 who were studied purposefully. In this regard, Q methodology was used. This method is one of the mixed research methods. Based on the findings of the Q-factor results، the number and manner of groupings show that the range of mindsets and opinions of experts regarding barriers to conservation agriculture have differences and similarities. Therefore، according to the purpose of studying Q and the criterion of interpretability of factors or groups, 5 categories (technology-centric، tradition-oriented، knowledge-centered, cognitive-centric, institution-centered) of the mentality and beliefs of experts in Sararud Research Center Kermanshah has been obtained. Each group had different mindsets and attitudes about barriers to the development of conservation agriculture. Given the prevailing mental model identified (central institution)، it is recommended that the government provide incentives and grants (loans، etc) to beneficiaries so that they can apply the method conservation agricultural farms.