The Role of Environmental Attitudes and Risk for Adoption with Respect to Farmers’ Participation in the Agri-Environmental Practices

Abstract

This research represents an attempt to systematically introduce the concepts of sustainable agriculture that shall address environmental attitudes and the risks for adoption related to agri-environmental practices. The substantial risks posed by climate change, loss of biodiversity, and other forms of pollution within the 21st century regarding global eco-systems, food production, and human health have emphasized the need to investigate this phenomenon. The agri-environmental practices are aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of intensive agriculture; however, the adoption of these practices calls for a change in the farmers’ behaviors. As farmers are indispensable stakeholders in rural ecological systems, the factors that determine the adoption of agri-environmental practices have been taken into analysis. The research has been carried out on a sample of 246 farmers in the rural areas of the Republic of Serbia. The data has been elaborated on by the SPSS statistical package and PLS SMART software. The findings, in the framework of a farm as a business, point out that the farmers believe that environmental protection is an important segment of production and that good agriculture is a prerequisite for producers’ survival, maximum yields, and profits. The farmers, in the framework of stewardship, agree that good agriculture implies responsible management of the farms’ agricultural and natural areas, as part of the country’s heritage, for the benefit of future generations. The findings also show that the environmental attitudes of farmers in the stewardship frame and factors of risk adoption influence attitudes toward agri-environmental practices. The findings of this paper reveal up-to-date attitudes toward the adoption of further agri-environmental measures, directly contributing to raising awareness of the introduction of new AEM among practitioners in the agricultural sector, decision-makers, and policymakers. The proposed research is significant in the process of transposition of the CAP acquis communautaire in agriculture policy and the implementation of measures under IPARD III.

The Role of the Law in Prompting Environmental Stewardship for Farms Located Near Phosphate Mines

“…For example, agriculture certification, which allows farmers to sell their products at higher prices in the premium markets, enhanced compliance with environmental legislation [23]. In Serbia, farmers were willing to adopt agri-environmental measures in return for long-term economic benefits [24]. Neves et al [25] found that penalizing polluting activities in the form of taxes and reinforcing clean activities by subsidies and financial benefits were effective in reducing CO 2 emissions in European Union countries.…”

“…Onyando et al [34] found that low awareness may hinder the safe use of pesticides by farmers. Vapa Tankosić et al [24], found that farmers were more willing to accept the AEM if they felt that preservation of the environment was essential for protecting the resources for future generations. Also, the adoption of AEM by farmers can be enhanced by increasing training and environmental education that demonstrate the environmental benefits.…”

“…Theoretical models have been used to identify the independent variables that influence adherence to beneficial environmental practices [24], compliance with the environmental law [22], environmental governess [36], and stewardship and responsible environmental behavior [30]. The models can be straightforward evaluations of the independent variables' connections with the dependent variables.…”

“…The models can be straightforward evaluations of the independent variables' connections with the dependent variables. Winter and May [22] examined the direct effects of calculated, normative, and social motivations on compliance with agro-environmental rules, and Vapa et al [24] investigated the variables that influence the improvement of the environment. It is also possible to consider variables that moderate or enhance the influence of the independent variables.…”

“…However, the review presented in the previous sections indicated that law enforcement alone may be insufficient to achieve effective compliance with the environmental rules and regulations. Instead, it should be combined with awareness about the laws and environmental problems and commitment, which includes a variety of social and moral variables [24,30,34,35]. However, previous research focused on normative motivations separate from law enforcement and without sufficiently addressing the question of the effectiveness of the environmental laws.…”