Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the factors influencing family decisions to continue farm activities in marginal land of Jordan. For representing marginal lands; selective parts of Karak, Jarash and Mafraq regions were included in this study. Systematic random and spatial sampling techniques were used to collect data from 85 farm families in these regions. Descriptive analyses and binomial logistic regression were employed to determine the socio-economic and land management factors affecting farmers’ decisions to continue farming activity. Socio-economic and land resource profile of farm family had important effect on their decision to continue farm activity. The profiles included factors of:  age and education level of household head, farm income and family labour work at farmer, these socio-economic factors significantly influenced the farmer’s decision to continue farming. Additionally, land management through adopting soil conservation and the institutional assistance in conservation had positively affected the decision to continue farming activity. These factors might be considered as a roadmap for structuring work plans to continue farm activity in marginal land. These work plans could be translated to services provided through extension and awareness campaign, technical and financial assistance in land conservation.

Key words: Farmer’s decision, farm activity, socio-economic factors, land resource.