Discriminant analysis of the participated farmers’ characteristics in the conservation agriculture project based on the learning transfer system

Abstract

The current study was carried out with the purpose of discriminant analysis of participated farmers’ characteristics in CA project based on learning transfer system in Iran. The study was a quantitative research that was conducted by a survey technique. The study population was consisted of all farmers who participated in extension training programs of CA in three provinces (Golestan, Fars and Khouzestan) of Iran (N = 1204). The sample study was selected by Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling table through stratified random sampling method (n = 384). Data were collected through a questionnaire. Discriminant analysis was used to investigate farmers’ characteristics among three levels of weak, moderate and strong learning transfer. The findings illustrated that nine variables of learning transfer system (personal capacity for transfer, supervisor support, opportunity to use, positive personal outcomes, performance coaching, motivation to transfer, perceived content validity, transfer design and transfer effort–performance expectations) had significant effects on the level of farmers’ learning transfer. It can be concluded that the learning transfer system is an applicable tool to investigate farmers’ learning transfer in the agriculture sector. Accordingly, it recommends that follow-up plans must be designed to achieve both the CA aims and optimization of farmers’ learning transfer.