Evaluating socio-economic influencing factors on terracing adoption: Using Logit model, Case study, Chamany Watershed, Golestan Province

Soil erosion is a major issue in agricultural production and food security. Soil conservation is important in farm productivity increase, food security and sustainable agriculture. Soil degradation is increasing due to unsuitable use of farmland condition, so investigation of socio-economic factors is necessary in increasing adoption rate and decreasing soil degradation costs. The aim of this study is analyzing socio-economic factors that affect the level of terracing acceptance by farmers in Deh-chenashk village in Chamani watershed, in Gorgan river basin, Golestan province. Necessary information has been collected through 74 questionnaires including individual, farmland features, and awareness level of farmers about soil conservation practices in the study area. Effective socio-economic factors on terracing adoption analyzed through statistic-economic model using Logit regression. The results showed a significant positive correlation between farmer’s education, main occupation (farming), farmland ownership, farmland slope, farmer’s awareness level about soil conservation practices, using extension services, farming income and terracing acceptance. Interpreting weighted aggregate elasticity and marginal effects of effective factors showed that one percent increase in education, one percent increase in farmer’s awareness level, and increasing farmer’s income lead to 0.11, 0.48 and 78 percent increase in acceptance of terracing, respectively. According to the study finding applied suggestion offered to decision makers for better management of watershed and reducing soil erosion.