Analyzing and modelling agricultural drought perception, attitude and behavior of agricultural stakeholders in Nevşehir province

In recent years, behavioral economics studies of the effects of agricultural drought, which have been felt with climate change, have become a subject of increasing interest. In this study, the factors to affect the behavioral intentions of producers regarding agricultural drought in Nevşehir province located in Central Anatolia Region, which is one of the important regions in agricultural production in Turkiye, were investigated. In this context, 2 districts Hacıbektaş (Rainfed Farming System) and Derinkuyu (Irrigated Farming System), which can represent Nevşehir province in terms of dry farming and irrigated farming systems, were selected by Purposive Sampling Method and questionnaire questionnaires were filled out with a total of 212 producers in these two districts. In the study, statistically differences were tried to be determined with basic statistical analyzes such as Chi-Square, T Test and F Test. With Artificial Neural Networks, "Farmer and Farm typology" variables and "Subjective Norms", "Attitudes" and "Perceived Behavioral Control" variables considered within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviors were taken into consideration in determining the "Behavioral Intentions" of producers on agricultural drought. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that the variables in the "Subjective Norms" group of the farmers together with the variables belonging to the "Farmer and Farm Typology" affect the behavioral intentions of the farmers to take measures against agricultural drought the most. As a result, it can be said that it is important to increase the external pressure criteria that constitute subjective norms in combating agricultural drought. In this context, raising awareness, encouraging organized activities, and even creating obligations to direct producers to behave at some points will have a significant positive impact in the fight against drought. For this reason, it is important that both official institutions and the private sector, together with NGOs, encourage and even incentivize producers in this direction.