Drivers for efficient water use in agriculture: an empirical analysis of family farms in Almería, Spain

Piedra-Muñoz, Laura and Vega-López, Laura L. and Galdeano-Gómez, Emilio and Zepeda-Zepeda, José A. (2018): Drivers for efficient water use in agriculture: an empirical analysis of family farms in Almería, Spain. Published in: Experimental Agriculture , Vol. 54, No. 1 (2018): pp. 31-44.

Abstract

This paper aims to determine the influence of family farming features on efficient use of water. The analysis focuses on a random sample of family farms in the province of Almería, southeast Spain. A hierarchical regression model was conducted to determine how the water efficiency is related to environmental awareness and certain characteristics of farmers, decision-makers and the family farm itself. The results show that these family farms strive to be more efficient in their use of water when they are going to be inherited, when there are younger decision-makers who have received a better education, and also when women are involved. Moreover, this efficiency is positively related to more ecological production and to the farmer’s habitual behavior with respect to water economy. The study provides evidence regarding the influences of socio-economic and environmental features of family farming on water use efficiency that may prove useful for other analyses and policy makers on water management in agriculture.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Environmental awareness; family farms; hierarchical regression; water use efficiency.
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C2 - Single Equation Models ; Single Variables > C21 - Cross-Sectional Models ; Spatial Models ; Treatment Effect Models ; Quantile Regressions; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture > Q12 - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q56 - Environment and Development ; Environment and Trade ; Sustainability ; Environmental Accounts and Accounting ; Environmental Equity ; Population Growth

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