Nomads’ Attitude towards Drought and its Determinants: The Case of Nomad Region of Derila, Gachsaran County

Rashednasab, Kh.; Ahmadvand, M.; Sharifzadeh, M.

Nomads’ Attitude towards Drought and its Determinants: The Case of Nomad Region of Derila, Gachsaran County

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Yasouj University

² Yasouj University.

Abstract

Reviewing drought literature among nomads revealed that, nomads’ copings mechanisms towards drought are affected by their attitude and perception of drought. Therefore, this survey study aims at investigating nomads’ attitude towards drought and analyzing its contributing factors. The main data gathering device was researcher made questionnaires which were fulfilled by face to face interviews conducted among 200 nomad households living at Derila region, Gachsaran County as the study population. Bartlett’s table was used to determine statistical sample size and 132 households were selected based on randomly quota sampling procedures. Face validity of questionnaires was confirmed by panel of experts and its internal consistency was- further assessed and confirmed by using Chronbach's alpha coefficient growing out of a pilot study (0.61-0.73). Results revealed that nomads held negative attitude toward drought and viewed it as a destroyer and at the same time as controllable phenomenon. Path analysis results showed that the most contribution to nomads' attitude was belonged to awareness towards drought by making direct and positive effect. Similar relations were also observed for number of livestock and household size factors, whereas the grazing capacity license and subjective norms had statistically negative direct effect on attitude towards drought. Finally, the practical suggestions were focused on public investment in order to present and improve farm based extension programs.

Keywords

20.1001.1.23223057.1396.6.2.5.9

References

Ashraf, M. and Kumar Routray, J. (2013). "Perception and understanding of drought and coping strategies of farming households in north-west Balochistan". International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 5(2), 49-60.

Bartlett, J. E., Kotrlik, J. W., and Higgins, C. C. (2001)."Organizational research: Determining appropriate sample size in survey research". Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal, 19(1), 43- 50.

Bazvand, H., Amiri, H., and Azadi, H. (2004). “Investigating Environmental Behavior of Farmers in Drought Condition”.1st International Conference on Environment, The Center for Achieving Sustainable Development. [In Persian].

Bedard, L., Deziel, J. and Lumarche, L. (2010). "Social Psychology” Translated by: Ganji, H. 2nd edition. Tehran: Savalan Publication 372 pages. [In Persian]

Beedell, J. and Rehman, T. (2000)."Using social-psychology models to understand farmers’ conservation behavior". Journal of Rural Studies, 16, 117-127.

Bem, D.J. (1972). "Self- perception Theory”. In l. Berkowitz(Ed). Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. Vol.6. Academic Press.

Breckler, S. J. (1984). "Empirical validation of affect, behavior and cognition as distinct components of attitude". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 1191-1205.

Chaleshgar, L. (2010)."Identification of Effective Factor on Farmers^, Skill and Knowledge about Drought in Central district of Eghlid, Fars", M. A. Thesis of Extension and Education Engineering, Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ramin, Ahvaz. Faculty of Agricultural and Rural Construction Engineering.[In Persian].

Fatemi, M. and Karami, E.(2011). "The impacts and causes of drought: A case study". Iranian Agricultural Extension And Education Journal, 6(2), 77- 97. [In Persian]

Fishbein, M., and Ajzen, I. (1975). "Belief, Attitude, Intention and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research”. USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. 578 pages.

Hassad, R.A. (2007). "Development and validation of a scale for measuring instructors’ attitudes toward concept-based or reform-oriented teaching of introductory statistics in the health and behavioral sciences". Ph.D. dissertation, Faculty of the College of Health Sciences of Touro University International, California:1-209.

Hayati, D., Yazdanpanah, M., and Karbalaee, F. (2010). "Coping with drought: The case of poor farmers of south Iran". Psychology and Developing Societies, 22(2), 361-383

ISNA.(2017). Water shortage in some nomad regions of Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad, Retrieval in:. [In Persian].

Karami, A., Keshavarz, M. and Kamgar Haghighi, A. A. & Lari, M. B. (2006). "Attitudes, Behaviors and Drought Management by Farmers". Shiraz: Fars Management and Planning organization^'s Publication. [In Persian].

Karimi, Y. (2000)."Attitude and Attitude change". 7^th edition. Tehran: Virayesh Institute Publication. 176 pages. [In Persian].

---------- (2013)."Attitude and Attitude Change". 7^th edition. Tehran: Virayesh Institute Publication. 168 pages. [In Persian].

Kazemi, N. (2015). “Investigating the Management Behaviors Against Frost: The Case of Walnut Orchardists of Komer Township”. M.Sc. thesis of Agricultural Extension, Yasoij University, Yasouj. [In Persian].

Keshavarz , M., Karami, E. and Zamani, GH.(2011). "Drought Vulnerability of Farm Households: A Case Study". Iranian Agricultural Extension And Education Journal, 6(2),15 - 33. [In Persian].

Kretch, D., Crutchfield, R.S. & Ballacheg, E. L. (1995). "Individual in Society". Translated by: M. Sanaei. USA: McGraw-Hill Publication. [In Persian].

Meteorological Organisation of Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad(MOKB). (2015). “Extended report of meteorology of the Kolgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad province”. Report No.16, Research group of metrology. [In Persian].

Mirfardi, A. (2016). “The Study of Relationship of Socio-economic Status and Sense of Social Responsibility with Environmental Behavior (the Case Study: Noorabad Mamasani's Residents).” Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 5(1),105-118. [In Persian].

National Drought Mitigation Center. (NDMC). (2003). "What is drought"? Retrieved from: http://www.drought.uni.edu/whatis/concept.html.

Rahimi, D., Movhdi, S. and Barghi, H. (2010). "Assessment of Drought Severity Using Normal Perception Index (Case Study Sistan and Baluchestan Province)". Geography and Environmental Planning Journal, 2, 56-72. [In Persian].

Resenberg, M. J. and Hovland, C.I. (1960). "Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Components of Attitudes". In C. I. Hovland and Resenberg, M. J.(eds), Attitude Organization and Change. New Haven: Yale University press, pp. 1-14.

Rezaian, A. (2010). "Principles of Organizational Behavior Management", 10^th edition. Tehran: SAMT Publication. 495. [In Persian].

Saadi, H. and Jalilian, S. (2017). “Sustainable Development, Analyzing of Wheat Growers' Attitudes and Perceptions”. Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 5(2), 9-23. [In Persian].

Samadi Berojeni, H. and Ebrahimi, A. (2010). "Drought Impacts and its Mitigation Approaches (In Ch & B Province)". Center of Research on Water Resources, Shahrkord University. [In Persian].

Statistical Center of Iran. (2016). “Annual Statistic Report of Nomads of Iran”. Tehran: Statistical Center Publication. PP. 751. [In Persian]

Trafimow, D. and Sheeran, P. (1998)." Some tests of the distinction between cognitive and affective beliefs". Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 34(4), 78-397.

Van Haften, E. H. and Van De Vijver, F. J. R. (1999). "Dealing with extreme environmental degradation": Stress and marginalization of Sahel dwellers. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34(7), 376-82.

Yaghoobi, J., Hamidi , K. and Masum, L.( 2016). "Farmers' Attitudes to Drought and Its Management (Case Study: Zanjanroud Watershed)". Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 2(8), 13-28. [In Persian].

Yazdanpanah, M. (2012). "Determine of Agriculture Professionals’ Norms and Attitude toward Drought Management: the Case of Bushehr province.” Modern Technology in Agriculture, 4(2), 37-151. [In Persian].

Yazdanpanah, M. and Monfared, N. (2013). "Inter- Related effects due to droughts for rural population: A qualitative field Study for Farmers in Iran". International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 31(2), 106-129. [In Persian]

Yousefi Hajivand, R. (2012). "Identification of Effective Factors on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior of Rural Families about Agricultural Living Diversity in Shadgan Pond District". Thesis of Extension and Education Engineering, Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ramin, Ahvaz. [In Persian].

Zamani, GH., Zarafshani, K. and Moradi, Kh. (2010)."Study of Psychological Coping Strategies of Fars Province Farmers In Drought". Faculty of Agriculture, Kermanshah, Iran. Journal of Rescue & Relief, 3, 14 - 23. [In Persian].