Determinants of farmers' willingness to use knowledge-based agriculture in Mazandaran province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University , Sari, Iran.

2 Industrial Management Department, Economic and Administrative Sciences Faculty, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

3 Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

Abstract

The agricultural sector is of most importance for ensuring the country's food security, but for the negative effects on the environment and excessive use of the country's natural resources is criticized. So it is necessary to utilize knowledge-based agriculture in order to optimally use of resources in line with sustainable development and ensuring food security. This study was conducted with the purpose of explaining the determinants of farmers' willingness to use knowledge-based agriculture by using the descriptive-correlation method and the survey technique in Mazandaran province. The statistical population includes all the farmers of Mazandaran province who were selected by multi-stage random sampling. The data collection tool is a questionnaire. Based on the results, the average willingness of farmers to use knowledge-based agriculture was higher than average.

The results of the path analysis showed that the attitude towards knowledge-based agriculture, the amount of knowledge and information of farmers and the level of understanding of problems had a significant direct effect on the willingness of farmers to use knowledge-based agriculture. The level of farmers' education had a positive and significant effect on the farmers' knowledge and information and their attitude, also education had a considerable indirect effect on the willingness of farmers.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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