title: Farmers' attitudes toward mandatory water-saving policies: A case study in two basins in northwest China.
abstract: China began to implement stringent water-saving policies in 2012. Mandatory water-saving measures implemented in arid inland river basins include the measures of allocating surface water among upper, middle and lower beaches, restricting household agricultural water use, closing wells, reducing farmland and increasing water prices. These measures have negative influences on the agricultural production of farmers. This study aimed to reveal the demographic and psychological correlates of farmers' attitudes toward these policies. The participants included 672 farmers in the Heihe River Basin and the Shule River Basin in northwest China. Structural equation analyses showed that farmers' awareness of the beneficial consequences of restricting household agricultural water and their perception of policy enforcement had significant relationships with their attitudes toward water-saving policies, whereas the effects of the New Ecological Paradigm and collectivism on farmers' attitudes were mediated through their awareness of beneficial consequences and their perception of policy enforcement. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that as a whole, there were no significant correlations between demographic variables and farmers' attitudes. Policy implications include propagandizing these policies among local farmers, strengthening open and fair policy enforcement, and cautiously using water prices as an instrument to control irrigation water.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
authors.forename: Genying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
authors.forename: Liuyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
authors.forename: Wenxia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D001290:Attitude; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005191:Family Characteristics; D000067565:Farmers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D045483:Rivers; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Arid inland basins; Attitudes; Beneficial consequences; Farmers; Mandatory water-saving policies; Policy enforcement