Factors affecting the use of technology in agriculture by wheat growers: the case of Iranian farmers.

Today, population growth and other constraints is increasing in areas under cultivation, agricultural development to achieve food security is becoming a problem. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to agricultural development and food security is to increase the productivity per unit of area. One way of increasing productivity per area of unit is the use of new technologies by farmers. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors affecting the use of technology in agriculture by wheat farmers in Shiraz, Iran. Using stratified random sampling method, the questionnaires were given to 480 farmers. According to the results, variables such as adoption of land consolidation project, social trust, social cohesion and awareness of the benefits of land consolidation project on the use of technology in agriculture have positive effects on gross income obtained from a hectare of wheat cultivation while number of non-family labor forces has negative effect. Considering the maximum effect of the land consolidation acceptance on the level of technology and that land consolidation operations required investment, costs for construction of the canal as well as secondary roads among farms and other facilities, it is recommended that government in collaboration with related agencies provide the credit facilities for the farmers.