Determinants of Participation in Watershed Development Projects in Khorasan, Iran

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.