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Determinants of Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Water Saving Measures: Evidence from Italy

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Listed:
  • Giovanni Pino

    (Department of Management and Economics, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy)

  • Pierluigi Toma

    (Department of Management and Economics, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy)

  • Cristian Rizzo

    (Department of Management and Economics, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy)

  • Pier Paolo Miglietta

    (Department of Management and Economics, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy)

  • Alessandro M. Peluso

    (Department of Management and Economics, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy)

  • Gianluigi Guido

    (Department of Management and Economics, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy)

Abstract

The present research is aimed at establishing how farmers can be encouraged to adopt irrigation water saving measures. By developing and implementing an extended version of the well-known Theory of Planned Behavior, we considered farmers’ propensity to adopt innovations and their water footprints. In a sample of 150 Italian farmers, we found that favorable attitudes towards water saving measures, and the orientations of environmental associations and public bodies favorably influence farmers’ intentions to adopt water saving measures. Farmers’ innovativeness and water footprints also exert a significant influence on their adoption intentions. The paper also discusses the contribution of these results to the previous literature and highlights practical implications for policy makers interested in promoting the adoption of irrigation water saving measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Pino & Pierluigi Toma & Cristian Rizzo & Pier Paolo Miglietta & Alessandro M. Peluso & Gianluigi Guido, 2017. "Determinants of Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Water Saving Measures: Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:1:p:77-:d:87187
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