Investigating the Environmental Behavior of Farmers on the Use of Agricultural Pesticides in Moghan Plain

Misbehavior of farmers when preparing pesticides can lead to environmental degradation, including surface and groundwater pollution, and the destruction of living organisms in the water; therefore, it is necessary to explain farmers' behaviors regarding the use of chemical inputs on the environment and humans. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the environmental behavior of farmers in Moghan plain (Ardabil province) in the use of pesticides. This study was a descriptive-correlational research, and in terms of data collection, it was a survey research. The statistical population, includes all farmers of irrigated farms in Moghan Plain (2017-2018) (N = 9996). Sample size was determined by using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table and by multi-stage sampling with proportional assignment, 400 persons (n =400). The research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was verified by subject specialists and university professors and finally approved. Reliability of the research tool was also confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The findings showed that farmers had a relatively positive attitude toward environmental protection, totally. Correlation analysis also showed that there was a significant relationship between farmers' environmental behavior with attitude, knowledge, the village distance to agricultural service center, agricultural experience and spray experience.  According to regression analysis, four variables of attitude, knowledge, the village distance to agricultural service center and records of spraying, explain 57.1% of the variance level of environmental behavior of farmers in applying agricultural pesticides. Considering the relationship between attitude and knowledge on the environmental behavior of farmers in the use of agricultural pesticides, attention to the implementation of the theory of the process of transferring innovation (knowledge, attitude and skills) in the form of agricultural extension and education programs in the research area can play an important role to improve farmers' environmental behavior.