ارزيابي پايداري كشاورزي گندم كاران آبي شهرستان سرپل ذهاب: كاربرد الگوي DSR

An Assessment of the Sustainability of Agriculture Practiced by Wheat Growing Farmers in Sarpole-Zahab Township (Application of DSR Model)

Issues including limitation of usable farming lands, soil destruction, greenhouse gasses effect, excessive dependency on non-renewable resources, malnutrition, and scarcity of food stuff, put emphasis on necessity of sustainability in agriculture. Therefore, an evaluation of sustainability achievement in agriculture is indispensable and unavoidable. The purpose of this descriptive survey research was to assess the agriculture practiced by sustainability of irrigated wheat farmers in Sarpole- Zahab Township, based on 12 indicators of DSR (Driving force- State- Response) model. The statistical population for the study was the irrigated wheat growing farmers in Sarpole- Zahab Township (N= 3712). A sample of 351 farmers was selected using cluster sampling method. To establish the validity of the survey instrument, a panel of faculty members at Razi University with professional experience in extension and sustainable agriculture reviewed the instrument. Cronbachʹs alpha coefficient was calculated to establish reliability. Results indicated that, in general, the sustainability level is very low. Based on taxonomy analysis, sustainability level in 75 % of the rural areas was from low to moderate. Regression analysis revealed that educational level, land under leguminous crops, area of land holdings, level of tendency to hire employees, membership in cooperatives, and age are the most respective important predictors of agricultural sustainability as regards irrigated wheat growing farmers. A utilization of under pressure irrigation systems, organic farming, increasing land under cultivation of industrial crops, as well as to diversify income resources are recommended for an achivement of agricultural sustainability.