10 pages., Via online journal., The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing people's participation in the exploitation of water resources for agriculture. The population consists of experts with a B.A. and higher degree employed in various sectors of Agriculture Organization, Water Organization and Research Center of Urmia city. The sample was randomly selected, and the sample size was determined through Kerjice and Morgan table to be 196. This is an applied field study. The survey tool is a structured questionnaire with close-ended question and its validity and reliability is confirmed by experienced professors, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient which indicates the validity of the questionnaire is calculated to be 0.834. The results show that there is a significant relationship among the administrative, social, cultural, educational, economic, ecological, technical, structural and political factors and the importance of people's participation in the exploitation of water resources for agriculture. The results of multiple regression showed that the independent variables explained 66 percent of the dependent variable variance. According to finding in this research these recommendation comments: Improvement and shortening of water transfer networks in order to speed up the transfer of water and reduction of water loss. Government financial support in the agricultural-industrial sector in order to use new technologies. Preventing economic, social, environmental and political losses due to Urmia Lake drying. Maintaining the diversity of plants and crops through water management and environmental management and environmental ethics. The role of mass media such as radio and television, the use of other channels of communication in highlighting the importance of optimal water consumption. Government support for farmers to renew or launch pipeline for farms and gardens to prevent water losses, as well as supporting new irrigation methods and repairing old transmission lines. Increasing cooperation between people and society and even the state regarding participation in the optimal use of water resources.
13 pages., via online journal., This study examined the feasibility of the use of mobile phones as an educational tool in agricultural extension services in the Guilan Province of Iran. A descriptive-survey methodology was employed on a sample population of 120 agricultural extension agents. Data were analyzed at descriptive and inferential levels using SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The results of the factor analysis indicated that the application of mobile phones in extension activities was influenced by three factors: economic, skill, and infrastructure. These factors accounted for 52.3% of the variance. Moreover, the possibility for the development of mobile phones as an educational medium is impacted by social, financial-credit, information-communicational, psychological, and improper conditions factors that, in total, captured 70.4% of the variance.
12 pages, Many environmental dilemmas such as water scarcity originate from human behavior. This study aimed to analyze Iranian farmers’ water conservation behavior using Bandura’s social-cognitive theory. To this end, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the required data. The research instrument was a questionnaire. A sample of 380 farmers was selected using a multistage stratified random sampling method. The results indicated that variables of social-cognitive theory could predict about 73% of farmers’ water conservation behavior variance. Investigation of direct effects of factors on farmers’ water conservation behavior revealed that the major determinants are as follows: intention of water conservation, social-structural factors, perception of others’ behavior, outcome expectancy, self-efficacy, and water conservation co-regulation. Findings showed that factors that have been mentioned in social-cognitive theory could be considered for enhancing farmers’ water conservation behaviors since the theory provides a more realistic insight into farmers’ behaviors with an emphasis on farmers’ social and structural contexts
