Analyzing factors affecting unsustainably of agricultural lands in East Azerbaijan Province (case of Malekan County)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Faculty member of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Unsustainably of farmland has received much attention in recent years. Hence, there is a need to assess the unsustainably factors of different land management systems. Understanding these factors is critical to formulate appropriate policies and programs to achieve sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this research aimed to analyses the factors affecting unsustainably of agricultural lands within wheat farmers in Malekan County. Sample size was estimated by using Cochran formula (n=162). Samples have been selected by stratified random sampling method. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education professionals and some experts from Jihad-e Keshavarzi Management of Malekan County. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed based on pilot study and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.71. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS21. The results of factor analysis showed six factors named: characteristics of water and soil, inappropriate climate, economic poverty of farmers, chemical inputs, weakness in technical knowledge and the structure of land, explained more than 71 percentage of variance of unsustainably of agricultural lands in study area.

Keywords


  1. Along, J. & Martin, R. (1995). Assessment of the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices: Implications for agricultural educatin. Journal of Agricultural Education, 3(3), 34-42.
  2. Comer, S., Ekanem, E., Muhammad, S., Singh, S.P. & Tegegn, F. (1999). Sustainable and conventional farmers: A Comparasion, Attitude and Belifes. Journal of Sustainable Agricultural, 15(1), 29-45.
  3. FAO. (2012). Sustainable Land Management. Retrieved from: www.fao.org/desertification
  4. Gupta, K. & Gupta, M. (2003). The Woes of Women in Drought: Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts. International Magazine of Women and Environment,  60(61), 12-14.
  5. Hosseini, S. M., Kalantari, KH. & NaderyMahdiyi, K. (2007). A Study on ecological sustainability rate of smallholders farming systems in Salehabad in Hamadan County. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1, 91-98. (In Farsi).
  6. Iravani, H. & Darban Astane, A. (2004). Measurement, analysis and explanation of sustainability operation of the utilization units. Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science, 35(1), 39. (In Farsi).
  7. Kalantari, KH. (2008). Processing and data analysis in social - economical research using SPSS. (3rd ed.), Farhangsab press, Tehran. Pp. 286. (In Farsi).
  8.  Kalantari, KH. Asadi, A. Shabanali Fami, H. & Arrabiyon, A. (2010). Analysis of sustainability components of wheat cultivation system in Fars Province. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development, 24(2), 169-176. (In Farsi).
  9. Karami, A. (2011). Look at the necessities of soil resources management in sustainable agriculture. Monthly Analytical, News and Educational Agricultural Engineering, 23, 18. (In Farsi).

10. Karami, A. & Rezaei Moghaddam, K. (1998). Poverty and sustainable agriculture: a qualitative analysis. Rural and Development, 2(3), 23-31.

11. Keshavarz, M. & Karami, E. (2008). Factors affecting on drought managment and its impacts: application of structural equation models. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 43(2), 267-283. (In Farsi).

12. Lal R. (1995). The role of residues management in sustainable agricultural systems. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 5(4), 51-57.

13. Maghsoodi, T., Iravani, H., Movahed Mohammadi, H. & Asadi, A. (2006). Regression analysis of factors affecting the sustainability of potato cultivation in the Fereydoon Shahr County. Journal of Rural Development, 9(3), 153-169. (In Farsi).

14. Nabizadeh, S., Mahboobi, M. R. & Abdollahzadeh, Gh. (2015). Assessing the sustainability of farm-land management in the Eastern Azerbaijan Province (Case of Malekan County). Journal of Rural Development Strategies, 2(2), 61-80. (In Farsi).

15. Nikdokht, R., Karami, E., & Ahmadvand, M. (2007). Comparative analysis of sustainability in traditional livestock production systems: The Case of animal husbandries in Firouzabad County. Journal of Water and Soil Science, 11(41), 433-442.

16. Poorzand, F. & Bakhshoodeh, M. (2011). Assessing of agricultural sustainability in Fars province using of agreement planning approach .Agricultural Economic Research, 4(1), 1-26. (In Farsi).

17. Salamon, S., Farnsworth, R.L., Bullock D.G. & Yusuf R. (1997). Family factors affecting on adopt production technology. Journal of Soil and Water Conversation, 52(2), 265-270.

18. Shahroodi, A., Chizary, M. & Pezeshkirad, GH. (2009). Knowledge, attitudes and skills in Sugar beet growers in Khorasan Razavi Province about soil sustainable management methods. Journal of Modern Agriculture, 16, 44. (In Farsi).

19. Stokle, D. G., Papendick, C. & Van, E.F. (1994). A framework for evaluation the sustainability of agriculture production systems. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, 9(1), 45-50.

20. Taghdisi, A. & Bashagh, M. R. (2012). Analysis and assessing of agricultural sustainability in rural areas and studying the roles of farmers, Case Study: rural areas in Azna County. Geography (Journal scientific Research of Iran Geographic Society), New Era, I(33), 129-147. (In Farsi).

21. Vanpassel, S., Nevens, F., Mathijs, B. & Van Huyleubroek, G. (2007). Measuring farm sustainability and explaining differenc in sustainable efficiency. Ecoligical Economics, 62(1), 149-161.

Walker, M. & Thers, A. (1996). Drought as a Natural Hazard. Drought: a Global Assessment, 1(5), 3-18.