Factors Affecting Farmers tendency to Continue Tobacco Cultivation in Mazandaran Province

Mazandaran province is one of the important poles of Tobacco production in the country. Evaluation of Tobacco cultivation status as a specialized commodity production system in the province over a 28-year period based on available evidence indicates a decline in cultivation of this crop. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze factors affecting farmers' tendency to continue tobacco cultivation in Mazandaran province. Data collection tool was a questionnaire, its validity was confirmed by the opinion of a group of experts and its reliability was based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient for different sections of the questionnaire, including environmental, extensional, technical, social and support factors above 0.75. The statistical population of this study is composed of tobacco farmers in Mazandaran province that Using Cochran sampling method, 147 samples were selected according to stratified sampling. According to descriptive analysis, 47.5% of farmers were positive about tobacco cultivation and the comparison of the mean tendency to continue cultivation in relation to age, literacy level, background tobacco farmers and income in the two communities (advocates and disagreeing continue to cultivate tobacco) did not show a significant difference. Also, according to the results of logistic regression analysis of drought and dry growing conditions, competing products such as rice and wheat, labor family and Transparency of purchase rates, respectively, with coefficient impact 0.663, 1.079, 0.589 and 0.628 has predicted a total of 33% of farmers' willingness and unwillingness to continue growing tobacco. Accordingly, in order to increase the tendency of farmers to continue cultivating, it is recommended to adopt appropriate pricing policies and provide support services such as providing loans and credits, tobacco insurance and their familiarity with appropriate agricultural methods and land preparation according to the conditions of the region.