Assessing Environmental Behaviors of Leguminous Crop Farmers in Kazakhstan through the New Environmental Paradigm

Abstract

Kazakhstan is a leading exporter of leguminous crops, which play a vital role in sustainable agriculture due to their nitrogen-fixing capabilities and low environmental impact. However, climate change poses significant challenges, including droughts and extreme weather, affecting crop yields and production sustainability. This study aims to evaluate the environmental attitudes and behaviors of Kazakh farmers growing leguminous crops, using the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale. The study data were coll ected from 115 farmers in Kazakhstan, a leading exporter of legumes. The results showed that views on climate change as well as all aspects of NEP influence farmers’ environmental attitudes. In addition, green identity plays a moderating role in the influence of ecocentric and anthropocentric subdimensions on attitudes towards ecological farming practices. Factor analysis of the new environmental paradigm variables were used to determine the ecological attitudes of farmers in the groups divided by the size of their production. Study demonstrates that Kazakh farmers have a moderate attitude towards the environment; with an average score of 3.27 out of a maximum of 5. Four different groups of environmental attitudes were identified: progress towards ecological balance, environment and living things, natural resources, and nature. The cluster analysis helped to identify that 50% of the farmers are sensitive towards climate changes and and its adverse effects, 22% of the farmers have a moderate attitude, and 28% classify less sensitive. Educated farmers and owners of large-scale production turn out to be more sensitive towards the environment and human-made implications. The results can be used in several theoretical and practical implications for sustainable management of crop production.