Relationships between Farmers' Behaviors towards Environmental Resources and Water Resource Management: The Case of Khuzestan Province, Iran

Aims: The present study concerns the environmental behaviors of farmers active in the Zohreh-Jarrahi, Maroun and Gotvand irrigation networks regarding water management in the farm. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the aforementioned irrigation networks in the Khuzestan province between January of 2008 and October of 2009. Methodology: Using the simple random sampling technique, 278 farmers (26, 70 and 128 farmers from the Zohreh-Jarrahi, Maroun and Gotvand irrigation networks respectively) were chosen. This sample comprised of 258 males and 20 females, aged 16-87 years old. The theoretical framework of the present study was based on the key aspects of the health belief model (HBM), later completed by adding a few other effective variables. The data were then analyzed by the multivariable technique, using SPSS software. Results: The findings of this study indicate that the key aspects of the health belief model significantly predict the farmers’ water management behaviors. In other words, understanding the advantages and barriers associated with the preservation of water resources influences the farmers’ water management behaviors through affecting their attitudes. Furthermore, existing attitudes towards water management practices in thereat, understanding the barriers associated with the preservation of water resources, and last but not least, perceived susceptibility against threats to water resources, all directly influence the farmers’ water management behaviors. Access to information regarding advanced water management techniques in the farm is another variable included in the theoretical framework used for this study, playing a key role in predicting the farmers’ management attitudes and behaviors. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a successful and clear application of the health belief model to water management in the farm using a few other significant variables, while enhancing the HBM for application to other issues related to the preservation of environmental resources. A few suggestions have been proposed at the end of the present study based on research findings.