Abstract:
Study of factors affecting farmers' participation in watershed development is crucial
for planners to ensure that projects fit local beliefs, values, and conditions. A cross
sectional survey was conducted to identify factors influencing farmers’ participation in
watershed development projects in the Khorasan region of Iran. A two-stage random
sampling technique was employed to select a representative sample. A total of 139
farmers (76 participants, vs. 63 non-participants) from 65 project villages were selected
and interviewed with the aid of a pre-tested interview schedule containing open-ended as
well as closed questions. The discriminant analysis indicated that such variables as legal
title to dry lands, hectares and value of dry lands, age, technical knowledge, level of
education, visiting of the model farmers, and the horizon of watershed planning, could
correctly classify about 80 percent of watershed farmers as participant vs. nonparticipants.
For better understanding of these determinants, a multiple regression
analysis was also carried out which indicated that "technical knowledge" and "hectares as
well as value of dry land" were the key determinants of farmers' participation in
watershed development projects.
Keywords: Discriminants analysis, Iran, Participatory approach, Watershed development.
