Effects of drought on socio-economic status of farmers: A case study on the Nehbandans wheat farmers

The purpose of this study was assessment of drought impacts on social – economical situation of wheat-producers and extension- educational solutions for decreasing of its impacts in Nehbandan county. This study was a sort of Survey research. The statistical population of this research included all wheat-producers households in Nehbandan County which were equal 3817 Households. Using Morgan table، the number of statistical sample was determined to 308 Households which were selected through random sampling in the first stage and stratified sampling in the second stage. A questionnaire was used as research tool which constituted of four sections included Individual، economical، social and farming characteristics in the first section، The impact of drought on economical situation In the second section، The impact of drought on social situation In the third section and extension- educational solutions for decreasing of drought Impacts in the fourth section. The questionnaire validity was confirmed through supervisor and advisor professor opinions and other experts related to this issue in Jihad-e-agriculture Management and its reliability also was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha which was estimated upper (= 0. 92). After collecting data، they were analyzed using SPSS software. The results of correlation showed that there is significant negative relationship between perceived drought by farmers and variables like literacy level، Income and participation in extension-educational courses. In addition، paired sample t test results showed that average area under cultivated of wheat، total annual production of wheat and the number of sheep، goat and cow in usual year were more than drought year. Also the number of annual irrigation in the drought year was more than usual year as these differences were statistically significant. According to Man-Whitney Test results، average of perceived drought between farmers who are satisfied and unsatisfied from amount of credits had significant difference. According to Kruskal-Wallis Test average of perceived drought among farmers whit different irrigation transmission canal had significant difference. The results of factor analysis of economical impacts of drought showed that these impacts can be classified into 5 category namely increasing production costs، decreasing wheat production، increasing economic ability of farmers، decreasing productive ability in future by farmers and exit from agriculture sector. Besides social impacts of drought showed that these impacts can be classified into 5 category namely increasing social challenges، decreasing the level of Hygiene and tuition، mental impacts of drought، social involvements and creating poverty in society. Lastly، The results of factor analysis of Extension- Educational Solutions for Decreasing of drought Impacts showed that these solutions can be classified into 5 categories namely extension of appropriate farming operations، education of farming management options، encourage of farmers to defend with drought، education and empowerments of farmers and establishment of data base of drought.