Factors affecting on canola farmer's adoption of sustainableagriculture in Golestan province, Iran

The study aim was identifying of effective factors on canola farmers’ adoption to sustainable agriculture. The research tools were the questionnaire, which panel of experts had confirmed its validity, and its reliability had been reported from 0.75 to 0.85. The target population of the study consisted of all canola farmers in Golestan province (N=7543), according to Cochran’ formula, a number of 365 people were selected using statistical sampling in a stratified randomization method. Finally, 296 questionnaires were gathered and analyzed (n=296). The knowledge and adoption of canola farmers majority about sustainable agriculture were at moderate and acceptable levels, respectively. The main practices of sustainable agriculture were observing proper time for cultivating, proper time for using chemical fertilizers, and amount of seeds, respectively. Furthermore, the main pushing factors of developing sustainable agriculture were management factor, attitude toward sustainable agriculture, and the amount of using information channels, respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis,social participation, extension-education participation, knowledge about and attitude toward sustainable agriculture”explained37.30 %of the variation of the adoption of sustainable agriculture bycanola farmers.In this regard, it is recommended that training sessions with providing the necessary incentives to farmers,besides increasing knowledge and improving their attitudes, the methods that contribute to the sustainability of crop production should be emphasized.