Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Investigating the influencing factors on the use of sustainable agricultural operations among the farmers of Khorram Abad County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Moslem Savari 1
Fatemeh Naghibiranvand 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran
2 PhD student Agricultural Development, Department of Extension and Rural Communications, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
10.22034/gsma.2025.724661
Abstract
Introduction

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is a set of standards for the safe and sustainable production of crops and livestock. It aims to help farm owners maximize yields and optimize business operations while also minimizing production costs and environmental impact. Following Good Agricultural Practices makes it easier for producers to supply products with the quality retailer’s demand and consumers want. Good Agricultural Practices is important because it reinforces responsible farming methods from site selection and land preparation to harvesting and handling. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), GAP applies available knowledge to address environmental, economic, and social sustainability for on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in safe and healthy agricultural products. Implementing Good Agricultural Practices can improve the livelihood of producers and the local economy as a whole, contributing to fulfill national development objectives or sustainable development goals.
 

Methodology

Indiscriminate use of chemical inputs has caused increasing concerns in agriculture, environment and resource protection, export of agricultural products. Today, the issue of environmental protection is one of the important challenges of mankind, and the production of healthy agricultural products along with compliance with global standards, while preserving the environment, has been considered in achieving sustainability and sustainable agriculture. In line with this importance, the present study was conducted with the general aim of identifying factors influencing the use of good agricultural practice among farmers in Khorram Abad County. The statistical population of the research included all the farmers of Khorram Abad county. Sample size using Cochran's sampling formula, 380 farmers were selected for the study by stratified sampling method with proportional assignment. The main research tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was done in two sections of descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS software.
 

Results

The results showed that the studied farmers do not use good agricultural practice well, and the behaviors of "not burning crop residues" and "using biological and biological fertilizers" are used more than other good agricultural practice. In addition, the regression results showed that the five variables of social capital, self-efficacy, moral norm, attitude and communication channels are able to explain 41.9% of the variance of good agricultural practice.
 

Discussion

The results showed that the studied farmers did not use appropriate agricultural operations well because nearly 70% of the respondent farmers used these operations low and medium. In addition, the results showed that the behaviors of "not burning crop residues" and "using biological and biological fertilizers" are used more than other behaviors. This is despite the fact that the behaviors of "biological pest control" and "integrated cultivation in arable land" have been used less than other behaviors. This result contradicts the studies (Bagheri et al., 2020; Savari et al., 2022a). This result may be due to two reasons (1) different statistical population and (2) different level of awareness of the respondents in the two communities. For example, Savari et al. (2022b) mentioned in their studies that the farmers of Khuzestan province are usually because of the ease of plowing, and Bagheri et al. On the field level, in the fertility and productivity of soils, they burn the remains of crop plants.
 

Conclusion

In addition, the results showed that the most important influencing variable in this field was social capital, which studies (Adnan et al., 2020; Savari et al., 2022a) support this finding. In the analysis of this finding, it can be said that in the discussion of agriculture and sustainable agriculture, social variables, especially social capital, play an important role. In other words, no development takes place without participation, satisfaction and local social trust.
 
Acknowledgments
The current paper is adapted from a research assigned in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, with a Grant Number of 1401.15, and financially supported by the university, thereby we declare our appreciation for their help.
 
Keywords
Good agricultural practice
sustainable development
sustainable agriculture
agricultural environment
Khoramabad County
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Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas
Volume 6, Issue 1 - Serial Number 21
Spring
Winter 2025
Pages 1-20