Wealth, education, geography impact water conservation attitudes among farmers: Study

The study advocates targeted interventions for different farming communities with different knowledge levels and water conservation practices

Wheat, one of the most cultivated crops in the world, is a water intensive crop. With growing necessities for water conservation in the face of global warming, a new research paper delves into how agricultural water conservation is crucial for sustainable development, particularly in water-scarce regions. 

Titled ‘Sustainable water management in wheat farming: Insights from diverse water environments’, the paper looks at the factors that determine water conservation behaviors among wheat farmers in both water-deficient and water-endowed regions. 

The study was carried out in the Khuzestan Province in the southwest of Iran, where data was collected from 634 farmers, out of which 132 were included in the final list. 

The study’s findings are particularly important for the global south, especially Asia, where wheat is a diet staple. In fact, six top wheat consumers by volume are China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, and Iran, while seven Asian nations have the highest per-capita consumption of wheat – Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Georgia, Syria, and Afghanistan.

The study’s findings can inform water management strategies in other water-scarce agricultural regions worldwide, underscoring the necessity for adaptive approaches that take into account the diverse characteristics of farming communities.

Local factors play key role

Around 97.5 % of the Earth’s water is saline, leaving the remaining 2.5 % as freshwater, of which nearly 70 % is used for agricultural purposes. But with climate variability, population growth, and urban expansion this scarce resource is threatened, for which conservation is essential.

And conservation is heavily reliant on local geographic conditions. Naturally, the amount of water available in their immediate farming land, and irrigation processes, create attitudes of the farmers, found the study. 

The paper’s results found significant differences in economic, socio-cultural, attitudinal, demographic, and farm-related factors between the two groups — water scarce and water-endowed farmers. The primary differentiation in farming practices lay in utilitarian beliefs and environmental awareness of the farmers, according to the study.

The study divided the farmers into three profiles – conservation novices, balanced practitioners, and conservation champions. All three profiles displayed differing levels of engagement and attitudes toward water conservation.

Other key insights from the study include that environmental awareness drives novice farmers to conserve agricultural water, while balanced practitioners benefit from utilitarian beliefs in conservation practices.

Farmers also exhibited differences in other measures like education, economics, environment, socio-cultural aspects, age, education level, attitude, and water conservation behaviour, according to the study. 

It found that water-deficient farmers scored higher in educational levels, economic status, environmental awareness, socio-cultural aspects, and attitude compared to water-endowed farmers, despite having lower crop yields. Age also plays a key role. Water-deficient farmers were younger, were better educated and were more inclined towards water conservation, which could lead to innovation in sustainable agricultural practices, found the study. But water-endowed farmers were generally older and more experienced and had higher crop yield. 

Tailoring solutions

The arising differences lead to tailoring interventions and strategies to promote better water conservation among both groups. Education, financial incentives, and peer-to-peer networks will work better for water-deficient farmers, while water-endowed farmers would be helped through experience-based workshops and personalized advisory services, suggested the study.

It found that conservation novices benefited from having targeted innovative technologies and mentorship, while balanced practitioners gravitated towards practical training and incentives. The better informed conservation champions, however, need a push to share their indigenous knowledge which can benefit all.

The biggest takeaway for policymakers from the study is that while differing attitudes exist for water conservation, the right intervention can work wonders and steer the world towards a water surplus future.

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