Farmers’ Views on the Factors Inhibiting the Implementation of Soil Conservation Practices in Koohdasht, Iran

Abstract

One of the dangers that constantly threatens agricultural sector is soil erosion. The purpose of this study was to investigate and categorize farmers’ views on the factors inhibiting the implementation of soil conservation practices in Koohdasht Township, Iran. The study was fulfilled by using descriptive - correlation method. A stratified random sam ple of 377 farmers was drawn from a population of 19531 farmers in the township, based on Krejcie and Morgan Table for determining sample size from a finite population. The research questionnaire was validated by a panel of faculty members of agricultural extension and education at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) and found to have sufficient content and face validity. Using a pilot study, internal consistency reliability was demonstrated with satisfactory alpha coefficient (0.73). Descriptive and inferenti al statistics, i.e., factor analysis, were used to analyze the data. Factor analysis produced four factors: “economic - extension”, “ecological - farming”, “social - structural”, and “organizational - management” which accounted for 49% of the total variance. The factors that emerged suggest the need for some executive measures to overcome the problems inhibiting the implementation of soil conservation practices in future programs. Keywords: Descriptive - correlation method, Ecological - farming, Economic - extension, Fa ctor analysis , Soil protection