The Path Analysis of Water Conservation Behavior in Agricultural Sector and Revivification of Lake Urmia: The Case of Farmers in Southern Basin of Lake Urmia

Discourses on the rescue of Lake Urmia from drought insist on transferring water from other areas which may cause the transition of crisis to those areas. Modifying of the pattern of water use in the related sectors with this ecosystem has been less considered. Nevertheless, optimal use of water in agriculture is an effective way to save water resources as well as returning the surplus water to redistribute into the Lake. Factors affecting the behavior of farmers with the emphasis on the environmental non-governmental organizations` (NGOs) role was the main objective of the study. The theoretical framework of the study was developed based on the Theory of Goad-Directed Behavior (TGB) adopted from Perugini and Conner. All of the farmers in Southern basin of Lake Urmia, Miandoab city (N: 23750) were the research population in which a sample of 368 farmers was selected based on Krejcie and Morgan`s Table using stratified random sampling method. The survey was accomplished by a questionnaire. The faculties of Agricultural Extension and Education evaluated the face validity of the questionnaire and the consistency of the items of the research indices was confirmed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using AMOS, version 20. The descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed by SPSS. According to the results of path analysis (PA), the perceived behavioral control and environmental NGOs’ performance had direct effect on water-saving behavior, and desire to collaborate in environmental NGOs and desire to revive the Urmia Lake had indirect effect on water-saving behavior by mediation of the intention to collaborate in environmental NGOs and the water-saving intention. At last, some recommendations were presented in order to improve the farmers` behavior regarding water use as well as their participation increase in environmental NGOs.