Urbanization pressure and farmers' attitudes: implications for agricultural sustainability

Empirical evidence suggests that urbanization pressure impacts agricultural sustainability. This article examines the role of farm characteristics in shaping farmers' attitudes amidst urbanization pressure to converting their agricultural land. Multivalue Qualitative Comparative Analysis (mv-QCA) was employed to elucidate the relationship between farm characteristics and urbanization characteristics from the perspective of farmers. Data were obtained from questionnaire-based interviews with 165 farmers in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas representing various farmer types including owners, owner-cultivators, cultivators, tenants, and pledgers. The results show that 39% of farmers in peri-urban areas and 58% of farmland owners in urban areas exhibit a stronger inclination to sustain their land and farming activities. Furthermore, social, and economic motives are the strongest reasons for farmers to continue to engage in farming today. They have astutely recognized the distinct characteristics of their urban, peri-urban, and rural regions as a result of urbanization. These adaptive strategies include adjustments in planting schedules, utilizing artificial means to source water for agriculture, modifying grain prices and land valuations, decreasing cultivated land size, controlling pests, and seeking supplementary employment. Additionally, extrinsic factors, exemplified by agricultural policies, played a pivotal role in adapting and shaping their behavior (attitudes). The significant role of government in the ongoing development of agriculture in the present and future is crucial. For individual farmers, no matter how heavy the pressure of urbanization, their intrinsic motivation to maintain their land and agricultural activities will remain strong as long as their needs are met.