A Determination of the Farmer's Behavior in Adoption Related to the Technologies of Integrated Pest Management

The aim of the study was to determine the farmer's behavior in adoption of IPM technologies in rice growing fields. A questionnaire was employed as the tool of survey. Population of the study consisted of the farmers taking apart in IPM/FFS participant groups in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces each with 3 years of experience in IPM. From among them, 305 were selected as the research sample. Findings revealed that, 57.5 % of adopters practiced the technologies of IPM through an execution of biological control practices, however, adaptors were in a better state in terms of knowledge, attitude, planning horizon, area under cultivation, and free from a need for off-farm income sources in comparison with non-adaptors, adaptors who were of an older age group. Results of regression logistic analysis revealed that among variable appearing in the equation, knowledge, attitude, planning horizon, accesses to inputs, membership in local group as well as soil quality significantly and positively affect the adoption behavior, while land tenure impact significantly and negatively the adoption behavior. Finally results indicated that the variables in equation are able to predict the behavior of farmers in either of the adoption, or non-adoption to an extent of more than 87% and correctly. Development of the farmer's individual and institutional capacity to create proper context for adopting sustainable agriculture technologies along with the spreading of soil-fertility technologies, as well as a focus on smallholders by extension sectors, were finally recommended.