an investigation of the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of modern irrigation systems in zanjan, and khodabande townships

the extension of the modern irrigation systems (mis) has been considered as one of the mechanisms for increasing irrigation water use efficiency since 1990s in zanjan province. the main purpose followed in this descriptive - correlational study was to examine the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of mis in zanjan and khodabande townships of the province through a survey, making use of a structured interview. a sample of 270 farmers from 17 rural communities was randomly selected in these townships employing a multi- stage sampling technique. the data were collected using a questionnaire the content and face validities of which were confirmed by faculty members, and irrigation specialists of the agricultural jihad organization. cronbach alpha coefficient was found out for a determination of the reliability and the internal consistency of the questionnaire (ranging between 0.74 and 0.86 for different constructs). the results indicated that the adoption of mis by farmers was positively and significantly  correlated with their age, financial standing, participation in the design and implementation of such modern irrigation systems, machinery possession and utilization, cosmopoliteness, and innovativeness. moreover, stepwise multiple regression revealed that 51% of the adoption variations could be explained by such variables as the total hectars of irrigated and rainfed lands, livestock number, financial status, machinery possession and utilization, access to communication channels, age, and the existing rate of water crisis before vs. after the utilization system adoption.