Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are presented as a feasible alternative to increase water resources for agricultural use. However, the installation of these systems in farmers’ holdings is very limited. It is necessary to know the opinions and attitudes of farmers towards these systems to develop...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2023.2189402 |
| _version_ | 1797680406943760384 |
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| author | Belén López-Felices Jose A. Aznar-Sánchez Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz Ernesto Mesa-Vázquez |
| author_facet | Belén López-Felices Jose A. Aznar-Sánchez Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz Ernesto Mesa-Vázquez |
| author_sort | Belén López-Felices |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are presented as a feasible alternative to increase water resources for agricultural use. However, the installation of these systems in farmers’ holdings is very limited. It is necessary to know the opinions and attitudes of farmers towards these systems to develop specific measures that respond to their needs. This study analyses the case of intensive agriculture in southeastern Spain. The objective is to understand the attitudes of farmers in relation to the installation of RWH systems. A profile of farmers regarding RWH usage was developed through cluster analysis techniques. The results show that the detected farmer groups have different preferences and attitudes regarding RWH and the incentives that could be implemented to encourage its use. The most important obstacles to implementing RWH are not only economic but also technical and agronomic. Additionally, the degree of environmental awareness a farmer has plays a key role in their decision to install RWH systems. Recommendations based on the findings of this study are provided for policy-makers. The results of this research may be useful for those regions that are considering RWH, especially in areas where water availability is a limiting factor for agricultural development or compromises its sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:29:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-347fe66ba5724fcca0cd46a1d79cc4b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-5903 1747-762X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:29:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-347fe66ba5724fcca0cd46a1d79cc4b52023-09-20T10:18:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2023-12-0121110.1080/14735903.2023.21894022189402Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agricultureBelén López-Felices0Jose A. Aznar-Sánchez1Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz2Ernesto Mesa-Vázquez3Research Centre on Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agrifood BiotechnologyResearch Centre on Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agrifood BiotechnologyResearch Centre on Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agrifood BiotechnologyResearch Centre on Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agrifood BiotechnologyRainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are presented as a feasible alternative to increase water resources for agricultural use. However, the installation of these systems in farmers’ holdings is very limited. It is necessary to know the opinions and attitudes of farmers towards these systems to develop specific measures that respond to their needs. This study analyses the case of intensive agriculture in southeastern Spain. The objective is to understand the attitudes of farmers in relation to the installation of RWH systems. A profile of farmers regarding RWH usage was developed through cluster analysis techniques. The results show that the detected farmer groups have different preferences and attitudes regarding RWH and the incentives that could be implemented to encourage its use. The most important obstacles to implementing RWH are not only economic but also technical and agronomic. Additionally, the degree of environmental awareness a farmer has plays a key role in their decision to install RWH systems. Recommendations based on the findings of this study are provided for policy-makers. The results of this research may be useful for those regions that are considering RWH, especially in areas where water availability is a limiting factor for agricultural development or compromises its sustainability.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2023.2189402water harvestingwater managementsustainabilityintensive agriculturefarmer attitudescluster analysis |
| spellingShingle | Belén López-Felices Jose A. Aznar-Sánchez Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz Ernesto Mesa-Vázquez Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability water harvesting water management sustainability intensive agriculture farmer attitudes cluster analysis |
| title | Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture |
| title_full | Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture |
| title_fullStr | Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture |
| title_short | Farmers’ profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture |
| title_sort | farmers profiles and attitudes towards the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in intensive agriculture |
| topic | water harvesting water management sustainability intensive agriculture farmer attitudes cluster analysis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2023.2189402 |
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