MODELS OF SOIL CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRBES: THE CASE OF IRAN

This paper examines the predictive power of diffusion, farm-structure, and multiplicity models in adoption of soil conservation technologies in developing countries. The data for the study were collected from 265 farmers in a highly erodable area of Fars province, Iran. The multiplicity model, which takes a perspective that combines the variables of diffusion and farm structure models, has proved to be the most powerful model in explaining the farmers* soil conservation adoption behavior. The most important variables in explaining the adoptions of soil conservation practices are: yield of wheat crop, farmersʹ awareness of soil erosion problems, hectares of wheat cultivated, cost of farming and knowledge gained from different sources, illustrating the complementary role of diffusion and farm structure variables. Finally, policy implication of findings, and suggestions for further sociological research to the problem of soil erosion in developing countries are discussed.