Sustainable management of agricultural water resources using rainwater harvesting systems: based on evidence from Iran

Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) play a vital role in water resource management, particularly in developing countries such as Iran. Amid declining rainfall and increasing drought conditions, these systems offer a sustainable solution for agricultural water supply, reduce financial costs, and lessen reliance on surface and groundwater resources. However, limited adoption of RWHS by farmers remains a significant challenge for policymakers seeking to promote sustainable water practices. This study aimed to examine the factors influencing Iranian farmers’ intention to adopt RWHS, focusing on farmers in Hamidieh County, located in southwestern Iran. To guide the analysis, an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model was employed, incorporating three additional constructs—response efficacy (RE), risk perception (RP), and place attachment (PA)—alongside the original components: attitude toward behavior (ATT), subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC). The findings revealed that the proposed framework demonstrated strong explanatory power, accounting for 74.2% of the variance in farmers’ intention to adopt RWHS. These results underscore the model’s effectiveness and offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance sustainable water resource strategies and boost agricultural productivity. Overall, the study contributes meaningfully to the discourse on agricultural water management and provides practical guidance for designing targeted interventions to encourage RWHS adoption among farmers. • Sustainable management of agricultural water • Rainwater harvesting for irrigation • Developing a planned behavior model using place attachment theory.