Dairy farmers' perceptions of sustainable agricultural practices in the Mediterranean region: two case studies from Türkiye and Morocco
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Dairy farming is a fundamental component in rural livelihoods in the Mediterranean region. Beyond contributing to food security, it provides household income and supports social stability (Alary et al., 2019; Serin et al., 2025). In Turkey and Morocco, dairy production constitutes a significant proportion of agricultural output, with thousands of smallholder farmers depending on milk as a daily and reliable source of income (Gönenç & Tanrivermiş, 2008; Sraïri et al., 2013). However, the sector is under increasing pressure due to climate change, chronic water scarcity and unstable feed prices, all of which threaten its sustainability (Astuti et al., 2024). The feasibility of sustainable agricultural practices (SAP) alone is insufficient to ensure adoption (Rizzo et al., 2024). Farmers’ perceptions of costs, benefits, risks, and compatibility determine adoption. Practices perceived as expensive, complex, or risky are rarely adopted, while those seen as profitable, familiar, or used by peers are more readily embraced. Perceptions therefore act as a filter through which information is translated into behavioral change. Two-stage Likert scale questionnaires were designed to assess dairy farmers’ perceptions of adopting SAP in Turkey and Morocco, as part of SUPREM-MILK project. The first stage involved a pre-presentation questionnaire assessing farmers’ baseline knowledge and perceptions before being exposed to any information. Then, farmers attended a structured presentation introducing key SAP, like crop rotation, cover crops and manure management. The second stage consisted of a post-presentation questionnaire that assessed perceptions across eight additional barriers, including risk aversion, learning capacity, accessibility, trust in information, social norms, environmental and social responsibility, knowledge on soil, and opinions toward sustainable practices. The questionnaire was conducted with 43 farmers from Turkey and 10 from Morocco. This approach allowed us to collect both baseline and expanded perceptions, providing new insights into how farmers understand sustainability challenges. The preliminary results from Turkey indicated that farmers already had basic knowledge of SAP, such as crop rotation and soil preparation even before receiving any information. The post-questionnaire highlighted adoption barriers such as lack of trust and limited access to reliable information. This study demonstrates how structured exposure to information can shift farmers’ perceptions, broaden their understanding of sustainable agriculture, and highlight real-world challenges. It identifies specific barriers to the adoption of these practices and supports policymakers in developing targeted strategies and supportive measures to improve their effective implementation. This research enhances the current understanding of how information interventions can influence and broaden perceptions. The predominant approach in research neglects the potential for perceptions to evolve or for new obstacles to emerge consequent to farmers’ engagement with structured data.
Source: HAL
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Climate action
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7209985402