Determining the Farmers Adaptation Intention towards Dust-Haze; Extended Model of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the farmers' adaptation intentions towards dust haze using the extended model of the "Protection Motivation Theory". This research was a descriptive study which was compiled using a researcher-made questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by composite reliability and its validity confirmed in three ways of content, construct and discriminant. Data analyzed using SPSS V21 and Smart PLS software. According to the results, the subjective norms, disincentives, beliefs in climate change and maladaptation have positive and significant effects, as well as the adaptation assessment has a negative and significant effect on the farmers' adaptation intentions towards dust-haze. Results showed about 96% of the farmers’ adaptation intention towards dust-haze explained. The results showed that considering the slow effect nature of dust-haze, the estimated extended model in this study has an appropriate fit for assessing farmers' adaptation intention. In this context, due to the low visibility nature of the effects of climate change, adding tangible variables to farmers can increase model accuracy and it is recommended in future studies. According to the results, the farmer's fatalism leads to the denial of the dangers of the dust-haze. Lack of adequate financial resources is one of the main constraints on farmers' adaptation intention.