How agricultural extension shapes farmers’ attitudes toward the eco-development paradigm for sustainability in Iran

Environmental management is a critical challenge for many nations, including Iran, which faces environmental issues. This study introduces a comprehensive framework for environmental management and eco-development as pathways to achieving sustainable agriculture while examining the factors influencing farmers' attitudes toward this approach. The first stage involved a survey using a questionnaire administered to 423 farmers from 50 villages, selected through a multi-stage stratified random sampling. The questionnaire's face validity was confirmed by a panel of experts, and its reliability was verified through a pilot study. The second stage utilized the AHP to assess the dominant mindset of agricultural extension managers of Fars Province. The findings indicated significant differences among farmers regarding environmental awareness, social participation, adoption of green technologies, attitudes toward environmental independence strategies, and perceptions of extension service effectiveness, depending on their access to agricultural extension services. Based on these results, a model was developed integrating green technologies, environmental awareness, the consequences of conventional agriculture, village population, social participation, the effectiveness of extension services, and attitudes toward independence strategies to explain farmers' perspectives on the eco-development paradigm. The AHP results revealed that the prevailing mindset among extension managers was an economic-oriented perspective aligned with frontier economics. This perspective conflicted with the conservation-based and sustainable agricultural practices promoted within the eco-development paradigm. Therefore, a shift in agricultural managers' perspectives toward eco-development is essential for advancing sustainability. The study highlights the critical role of agricultural extension in fostering environmental management and promoting eco-agriculture as a key objective of modern extension programs. • Eco-development offers a holistic approach to sustainable agricultural environmental management in Iran. • Economic priorities among managers often conflict with the need for sustainable agricultural practices. • Shifting to eco-development is key to tackling Iran's environmental challenges. • Agricultural extension fosters eco-development through collaboration and participatory management.