Economic and Social Evaluation of Low-Input Rice Cultivation Development in Mazandaran Province of Iran

This aimed at examining the socio-economic and feasibility of rice cultivation development with lower consumption of chemical inputs compared to conventional cultivation methods in Mazandaran province of Iran. For this purpose, using the classified random sampling method, 722 users were selected in 2017 out of 12000 users, and necessary data and information were collected by completing the questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was performed in terms of risk variable using Logit multivariate regression. The results showed that low-input rice cultivation led to lower production costs and higher economic profits as well as its environmental and social benefits to society. The results of regression estimation showed that the variables of risk reward, the number of times the Trico card was installed, the use of low-input technology in adjacent lands, the experience of low-input production, participation in promotional classes, and product value per hectare had the most significant positive effect and the area under cultivation in the previous year, age, and the number of land plots had the most significant negative effect on the adoption of low-input rice cultivation. Also, the results showed that by liberalizing the price of chemical inputs, providing natural inputs as subsidies, accelerating land consolidation, educating farmers on the optimal use of agricultural inputs, and with the participation of paddy farmers, the traditional method could be replaced by the low-input rice cultivation.