Investigating the Effective Factors on Farmers’ Participation in Using Biological Pest Control Methods in Torshiz Area

Background: Knowing the factors affecting the acceptance and use of biological control technologies can help to find a solution to the problem of acceptance of farmers' participation.This study aimed to investigate factors influencing farmers' acceptance of biological pest control methods in the Torshiz area of Khorasan Razavi.Methods: This study involved descriptive-analytical research using structural equation modeling.The statistical population included 100 farmers of the region, 95% of respondents were male and 5% were female, and the questionnaires were completed in person.The validity of the studied constructs was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).Using the reliability of the questionnaire, the distribution of 30 questionnaires among the target population and their completion and collection was determined by calculating the Cronbach's alpha.Also, Friedman's rank test was used to assess the relative importance of items and prioritization of factors.The data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 22 and the structural model was achieved in PLS Software version 3. Results: The results indicated that the significance level of Friedman's test is less than 0.05, suggesting that the items did not have the same importance across all four factors.The results showed that the most effective factors contributing to the acceptance of biological pest control methods were in the attitudinal category, followed by economic and social factors.The study also ranked the influential components in four factors. Conclusion:To enhance the acceptance of sustainable technologies for producing highquality products in the Torshiz area, it is crucial to consider the costs of pesticides and learn from the positive experiences of other farmers who have adopted biological pest control methods.