Influencing Factors on Adoption of Organic Farming from the Perspective of Horticulturists in Sari County, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine influencing factors on adoption of organic farming in Sari County, Iran. The methodological approach of this study was descriptive-correlation. The research population consisted of 18830 horticulturists in Sari County, which was selected using stratified randomizing sampling method and Cochran formula. Validity of the instrument was established by a panel of experts consisting of senior faculty members in agricultural extension and education department. Reliability analysis was conducted by using and Cronbach alpha formula and result was 0.89. The results showed that 54.6 percent of horticulturists expressed situation of adoption of organic farming were low. Variable of experience with adoption of organic farming had been relationship of negative and significant. Also, variables of yield, cost-benefit, drip irrigation acreage, connect to experts, social status, social participation, effect of extension-education activities, use of information resources, compatibility of organic farming innovations and testability of organic farming innovations with adoption of organic farming had been relationship of positive and significant. The results of the multiple regression analysis (stepwise method) revealed that the variables of social participation, effect of extension-education activities and drip irrigation acreage in three steps explained variation of 24% of adoption of organic farming.