An Investigation of Motivation Factors Affecting on Farmer's Participation in Terrace Cropping Operations in Agricultural Land Case Study: Chehel-Chai Watershed, Golestan Province

This study investigated motivation factors affecting on farmer’s participation in terrace cropping operations in agricultural land in Chehel-Chai watershed in Golestan province. Research method was descriptive and t­he statistical population of the study consisted 75 farmers participated in terrace cropping operations in agricultural land in Chehel-Chai watershed in Golestan province. Using systematic random sampling, 62 of them were chosen. Information was gathered through a questionnaire and its face validity was confirmed by experts of soil conservation and agricultural extension. The reliability analysis was conducted with completing 30 questionnaires outside the geographic research region and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.81. Data were analyzed using SPSSwin16 software. The results showed most important motivators for farmer’s participation in terrace cropping operations in agricultural land were cooperate with other farmers implementer operations, encourage other farmers and perform the operations by neighbors adjacent farm. Also the results showed a greater impact of individual-social motivators for farmer’s participation in implementation of terrace cropping operations in farms. This study has proposed attention to interpersonal relationship between farmers and offering technical advice by visiting experts to farms and communication resources especially radio and television in order to continue participating farmers in implementation of terrace cropping operations.