Factors affecting men and women of cotton producers’ knowledge toward sustainable agriculture in Isfahan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Graduate Student of Agricultural Extension and Education, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran

Abstract

The consumption of chemical fertilizers and increasing environmental crisis has emphasized to increase interest in sustainable agriculture. The farmers' knowledge related to sustainable agriculture has an important role in their environmental behaviors. This research investigated factors affecting men and women cotton producers’ knowledge. The survey research was conducted using stratified random sampling in Isfahan Province. The subjects were selected from 178 cotton producers’ families (179 and 178 men and women, respectively). The findings indicated that age and years of agricultural job had negative correlation with women cotton producers’ knowledge of sustainability. Based on the findings of regression access to information and environmental affects had important roles to determine women and men cotton producers’ knowledge of sustainability. Findings indicated that women and men cotton producers that view agriculture as a principle job had a better knowledge of sustainability. The results indicated that awareness of environmental consequences, moral norm toward sustainable activities, yield of cotton and ascription of behavioral responsibility were determinates of men cotton producers’ knowledge of sustainability.

Keywords


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