Identification of effective factors on acceptance of new irrigation systems for optimum agricultural water management in the Torshiz area

Galdavi, Somayeh; Ghomanjani, Fateme; Dehghan, Hadi

doi:10.22034/jelsa.2024.452224.1060

Identification of effective factors on acceptance of new irrigation systems for optimum agricultural water management in the Torshiz area

Document Type : Original research article

Authors

Somayeh Galdavi

Fateme Ghomanjani

Hadi Dehghan

Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Kashmar Higher Education Institute, Kashmar, Iran

10.22034/jelsa.2024.452224.1060

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify the factors contributing to the adoption of New Irrigation Systems (NIS) by farmers in the Torshiz region. After gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the study area, a questionnaire was prepared to gather the opinions and views of farmers on the use of these systems. After determining the validity of the questionnaire through expert opinions and its reliability by calculating Cronbach's alpha (0.93), the questionnaire was distributed among 100 farmers and filled out by them in the region. The analysis of the questionnaires was done in SPSS 21 software, and the structural modeling of the effective factors in the acceptance of the systems was done in Smart PLS software. The analysis showed that all of the investigated factors had a significant impact on the acceptance of irrigation systems (T-index greater than 1.96 and significant level less than 0.05). Attitudinal factors were found to be the most influential, followed by economic factors. According to the results, the most significant educational factor was found to be the "suitable cultivation pattern for the region", while the most important economic factor was "various cultivation abilities". In terms of social factors, "using the positive experiences of others in connection with NIS" was identified as the most crucial. Lastly, among the attitudinal factors, it was found that believing that it causes more success in farm management is of the highest importance. Therefore, according to the location of this region, which is located in a hot and dry climate, farmers should be encouraged to accept the use of technology. They can do this by identifying the most suitable cultivation pattern for the region and holding scientific and practical training courses. In this case, it is possible to increase agricultural production and improve water consumption efficiency in the area.

Highlights

Identify factors influencing farmers' adoption of NIS for better water management in Torshiz, a hot and dry region.
All investigated factors (educational, economic, social, attitudinal) significantly influence NIS adoption.
Attitudinal factors have the strongest influence, followed by economic factors.
Farmers value NIS' potential for success in farm management and efficient water use.

Keywords

Adoption of NISs

Structural modeling

Sustainable agriculture

Water scarcity

Ashraf, S., AghaKouchak, A., Nazemi, A., Mirchi, A., Sadegh, M., Moftakhari, H.R., & Anjileli, H. (2019). Compounding effects of human activities and climatic changes on surface water availability in Iran. Climate Change, 152 (3–4), 379–391. doi: 10.1007/s10584-018-2336-6

Boazar, M., Abdeshahi, A., & Yazdanpanah, M. (2020). Changing rice cropping patterns among farmers as a preventive policy to protect water resources. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 63(14), 2484–2500. doi: 10.1080/09640568.2020.1729705.

Castillo, G.M.L., Engler, A., & Wollni, M. (2021). Planned Behavior and Social Capital: Understanding Farmers’ Behavior toward Pressurized Irrigation Technologies. Agricultural Water Management, 243, 1-16. 106524. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106524

Chuchird, R., Sasaki, N., & Abe, I. (2017). Influencing Factors of the Adoption of Agricultural Irrigation Technologies and the Economic Returns: A Case Study in Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand. Sustainability, 9, 1524. doi: 10.3390/su9091524.

Feizabadi, Y., & Gorji, E. M. (2018). Analysis of effective factors on agricultural water management in Iran. Water and land development, 38, 35-41. doi: 10.2478/jwld-2018-0040.

Haji, L., Valizadeh, N., Rezaei-Moghaddam, K., & Hayati, D. (2020). Analyzing Iranian farmers' behavioral intention towards acceptance of drip irrigation using extended technologyacceptance model. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 22 (5), 1177-1190.

Iskandar, M. J., Baharum, A., Anuar, F. H., & Othaman, R. (2018). Palm oil industry in south east asia and the effluent treatment technology -a review. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 9, 169–185. doi: 10.1016/j.eti.2017.11.003.

Koech, R., Haase, M., Grima, B., & Taylor, B. (2021). Barriers and measures to improve adoption of irrigation technologies: A case study from the Bundaberg region in Queensland, Australia. Irrigation and drainage, 70 (4), 909-923. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2583.

Koech, R., & Langat, P. (2018). Improving irrigation water use efficiency: A review of advances, challenges and opportunities in the Australian context. Water, 10, 1771. doi: 10.3390/w10121771.

Lopolito, A., Barbuto, A., & Santeramo, F. G. (2022). The role of network characteristics of the innovation spreaders in agriculture. Bio-based and Applied Economics, 11(3), 219-230. doi: 10.36253/bae-9932 .

Martinez-Arteaga, D., Arias Arias, N.A., Darghan, A.E., & Barrios, D. (2023). Identification of influential factors in the adoption of irrigation technologies through neural network analysis: A case study with oil palm growers. Agriculture, 13, 827. doi: 10.3390/agriculture13040827.

Menatizadeh, M., & Zamani, G. (2017). Causal analysis of water conservation behaviors of the studied farmers: Khorram Abad city. Water resources research of Iran. 14 (3), 80-91. [In Persian].

Movahedi, R., Izadi, N., & Vahdat Adab, R. (2017). Investigating factors affecting farmers’adoption of pressurized irrigation technology in Asadabad county, Hamedan province. Water Research in Agriculture, 31 (2), 287-300. [In Persian]. doi: 10.22092/jwra.2017.113172

Nejadrezaei, N., Allahyari, M. S., Sadeghzadeh, M., Michailidis, A., & El Bilali, H. (2018). Factors affecting the adoption of pressurized irrigation technology among olive farmers in Northern Iran. Applied Water Science, 8, 190-199. doi:10.1007/s13201-018-0819-2

Oyetunde-Usman, Z., & Olagunju, K.O., Ogunpaimo, O.R. (2021). Determinants of adoption of multiple sustainable agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 9, 241–248. doi: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2020.10.007

Piwowar, A., Dziku, M., & Dziku, M. (2021). Water management in poland in terms of reducing the emissions from agricultural sources—current status and challenges. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 2, 100082. doi: 10.1016/j.clet.2021.100082

Playan, E., & Mateos, L. (2006). Modernization and optimization of irrigation systems to increase water productivity. Agricultural Water Management, 80, 100-116. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2005.07.007

Qanavati, M., Azar, A., & Gholamzadeh, R. (2013). Path-structural modeling in management: application of SmartPLS Software. Tehran: Negah Danesh Publications. [In Persian].

Rahimi-Feyzabad, F., Yazdanpanah, M., Burton, R. J., Forouzani, M., & Mohammadzadeh, S. (2020). The use of a bourdieusian “capitals” model for understanding farmer’s irrigation behavior in Iran. Journal of Hydrology, 591, 125442. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125442

Rezazadeh, A., & Davari, A. (2012). Structural equation modeling with PLS software. Tehran: Academic Jihad. [In Persian].

Rouzaneh, D., Yazdanpanah, M., & Bakhshi Jahromi, A. (2021). Evaluating micro-irrigation system performance through assessment of farmers’ satisfaction: implications for adoption, longevity, and water use efficiency. Agricultural Water Management, 246, 106655. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106655

Sabbagh, M., & Gutierrez, L. (2023). Farmers’ acceptance of a micro-irrigation system: A focus group study.Bio-based and Applied Economics, 12(3), 221-242. doi: 10.36253/bae-13464.

Saleh, A., Bako, R.B., & Suleiman, M.L. (2021). Factors influencing acceptance of farmer education and irrigation technology for sustainable food production in kwanar are dam – katsina state. FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS), 5 (4), 142 – 148. doi: 10.33003/fjs-2021-0504-797

Taheri, H., Maleksaeidi, H., & Jalali, M. (2019). Factors affecting adoption of water management project for reclamation of lake Urmia by farmers in naghadeh township. Iran-Water Resources Research, 15(2), 265-277. [In Persian]. doi: 20.1001.1.17352347.1398.15.2.20.9

Van de Zande, G. D., Amrose, S., Donlon, E., Shamshery, P., & Winter V, A. G. (2024). Identifying opportunities for irrigation systems to meet the specific needs of farmers in East Africa. Water, 16(1), 75. doi:10.3390/w16010075

Yazdanpanah, M., Zobeidi, T., Mirzaei, A, Lohr, K., Warner, L. A., Lamm, A., Rouzaneh, D., & Sieber, S. (2023). Comparison of different modern irrigation system adopters through socio-economic, innovation characteristics, and social capital values. Regional Environmental Change, 23, (152). doi: 10.1007/s10113-023-02147-7

Yazdanpanah, M., Klein, K., Zobeidi, T., Sieber, S., & Lohr, K. (2022). Why have economic incentives failed to convince farmers to adopt drip irrigation in southwestern Iran? Sustainability, 14, 2055. doi: 10.3390/su14042055.