Investigating the Role of Communication and Information Channels in Adopting Agricultural Water Conservation Behavior

Our farmers are a vital part of the national economy, providing jobs for people in rural communities and food for our tables. Farmers can play an essential role in sustainable development by protecting agricultural water resources. To achieve this, they need training to be able to conserve water optimally. In this regard, this study was conducted with the aim of the effect of communication and information channels in adopt agricultural water protection behavior.

The statistical population of the study was all households of wheat farmers in Khorramabad County (N = 12500). The sample size was determined using Cochran's sampling formula of 240 heads of farmers' households. The data collection tool was a questionnaire, which its validity was determined by a panel of experts including faculty members of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan and its reliability for communication channels and water protection behavior were confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Split Half method, respectively. Data analysis was performed in two sections of descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS software.

The results showed that most of the water conservation behaviors used by farmers included "irrigation of the land to the extent that the land is able to absorb it" and "irrigation of the land is uniform" and minimum operations include "storing excess water at each irrigation for subsequent irrigation" and "storing water in the pool". The results also showed that the most used channels in the field of water conservation included participation in promotional rounds and television programs. The results of discriminate analysis showed that the dimensions of communication and information channels (face to face, electronic, audio and text) can be about 87% of farmers who carry out water conservation operations than other farmers in Properly separate these fields of activity.

The agricultural sector as the most important sector of water consumption needs special attention to be used optimally for water. The media can help farmers in this important matter.