Development of a Scale to Remove Farmers’ Sustainability Barriers to Meteorological Information in Iran

Abstract

Even with significant breakthroughs in the production and delivery of meteorological information, most farmers are not able to utilize such information properly and pertinently. Up to the present time, a standardized scale has not been developed to examine farmers’ sustainability barriers to meteorological information use (BMIU). Furthermore, there is no doubt that identifying indicators and dimensions of sustainability barriers to meteorological information and weather forecasts’ usage by farmers can play a major role in their adaptation and resilience to the risks of climate change. Therefore, the present study aimed to generate and validate a scale for BMIU by farmers through an eight-step approach. Accordingly, the statistical population included 9006 Iranian farmers, 368 of whom were selected as study samples. The principal component factor analysis (PCFA) and second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were further practiced to develop the scale for meteorological information and weather forecasts’ use. Factor analysis also led to the emergence of five latent factors including “educational–communicative barriers (ECBs)”, “normative barriers (NBs)”, “informational barriers (IBs)”, “infrastructural–political barriers (IPBs)”, and “professional–economic barriers (PEBs)”. The second-order CFA correspondingly confirmed these five factors and their 25 related indicators. Given the challenges facing academic scholars, decision makers, and authorities in the application and facilitation of meteorological information, the developed multidimensional scale in this study along with its implementation steps can be effective in examining the limitations of utilizing such information and measuring its impacts in different agricultural communities.

A conceptual model for adaptation to climate variability in rangelands

“…So that, it has exposed the highest risk to arid and semi-arid regions of the world (Keshavarz et al, 2014). This is particularly true in developing countries like Iran whose rural livelihood is highly sensitive and vulnerable to climate changes (Adger et al, 2003;Haji et al, 2020;Valizadeh et al, 2021b). Since the beginning of the twenteeth century, unfavorable intensified variability has severely eroded natural resources in Iran (Karami, 2009;Hayati et al, 2010;Sharafi et al, 2021;Valizadeh et al, 2021a).…”

Factors affecting farmers' intention to use ECEs in Covid-19 pandemic: combining the technology acceptance model (TAM) and barrier factors

“…(2022), we used three items to measure PU and four items to measure PEU. The barriers in this study were built on the questionnaires of Valizadeh et al. (2021).…”

“…To sharpen the focus of our analysis, we extend the TAM theory by adding additional barriers. These barrier factors are built based on the study of Valizadeh et al. (2021), including the Knowledge-experience barrier (KEB), Informational barrier (IB), Infrastructural barrier (INB) and Professional barrier (PB).…”

Application of social identity models of collective action to facilitate participation in groundwater aquifer storage and recovery management

“…Among community members, collective action and networking is of many advantages. For instance, it facilitates access to information and allows farmers as members of the community, to participate in the development of related technologies ( Valizadeh et al, 2021a , c ; Odağ et al, 2022 ). It also makes it easier for them to access financial credit, and also share potential risks among members of the community ( Meinzen-Dick and Di Gregorio, 2004 ; Khumalo et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Therefore, farmers are certainly considered as one of the most significant stakeholders in ASR, the behavioral intention of whom towards participation would be of great importance ( Bagheri et al, 2020 ). In other words, farmers’ participation is one of the main prerequisites of any sustainable water resource management program ( Rahimi-Feyzabad et al, 2020 ; Valizadeh et al, 2021a , b , c ); ASR management in Fashafoyeh plain is no exception to this rule and in its implementation, the need for farmers’ participation is undeniable; However, it should be mentioned that the crisis of water resources management in Fashafuyeh plain is a regional level (not individual level) crisis and requires collective actions of stakeholders, i.e., farmers ( Bagheri et al, 2020 ). In other words, the intention towards participation in collective actions in large-scale crises such as sustainable management of water resources in Fashafuyeh plain is much more effective than individual actions of farmers.…”