Analysis of Factors Influencing The Attitude of Optimal Water Management With Emphasis on The Mediating Role of Sense of Responsibility: A Case Study Of Wheat Farmers in Kermanshah County

Restrictions on water resources and less favorable attitudes toward agricultural water use a significant threats to the sustainability of these resources. Accordingly, the investigation of factors influencing the attitude of wheat farmers towards optimal water management in Kermanshah County was considered. The statistical sample of this study was 364 people who were identified by stratified random sampling with proportional assignment. Finally, 322 people participated in this study. The questionnaire was the main tool of data collection. The validity of the research tool was evaluated using the opinions of academic and executive experts. Also, using a pilot study and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients, the reliability of the research instrument was confirmed (0.73 ≥α≥ 0.90). The results showed that the attitude of wheat farmers towards optimal water management is moderate. The results of path analysis showed that the sense of responsibility towards optimal water management directly explained 30.9% of the variance changes in the attitude towards optimal water management. Also, understanding the benefits of optimal water management, understanding the vulnerability to water scarcity, social norms and quality of extension services in the related to optimal water management through the variable mediation of sense of responsibility has an indirect effect on wheat farmers' attitudes toward optimal water management.