Investigating the Factor Structure of Components Affecting Adoption and Development of Durum Wheat in Rural Areas of Iran

The main purpose of this study was to explain the factors affecting the adoption and development of durum wheat cultivation in rural areas of five provinces of Fars, Khuzestan, Kerman, Ilam and Tehran in Iran using structural equation model. The required data were collrcted through a questionnaire, the reliability of which was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability index (CR); and the extracted mean variance index (AVE) was used to determine the convergent validity of the components. The statistical population of the study included all wheat farmers in the mentioned provinces. Statistical sample size was determined as 274 people using Krejcie and Morgan sample size table and statistical samples were selected using multi-stage sampling method with proportional assignment. The results indicated that the studid indices were desirable. Data analysis was performed in a structural equation modeling method using LISREL8.5 and SPSS22. The study results confirmed the positive and significant effect between the explanatory components affecting the willingness to adopt durum wheat cultivation; in addition, the structural equation model predicted, in total, 47 percent of the variable variations in the tendency to adopt durum wheat cultivation. Finally, the results of this study are expected to be useful in developing strategies for extension and development of durum wheat cultivation. In addition, this research can be useful for breeders to breed varieties appropriate to the wheat farmers` conditions and needs.