Behavioural drivers of long-term land leasing adoption: application of an extended theory of planned behaviour

Adewale Henry Adenuga (), Claire Jack and Ronan McCarry
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Adewale Henry Adenuga: Economics Research Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
Claire Jack: Economics Research Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
Ronan McCarry: Economics Research Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 27, issue 7, No 69, 16819-16839

Abstract: Abstract Increasing agricultural productivity while also protecting the environment, requires careful stewardship of the most important resource in production – land. Most land in Northern Ireland is controlled via owner occupation and granting access to others is a matter for careful consideration. Proprietorial caution, combined with custom and values attributed to land in the region has resulted in a pattern of tenure dominated by short-term rental agreements called conacre. An insecure, short-term land rental system, such as the conacre may be a disincentive to farmers in their decision-making around investing in land management and development, consequently resulting in reduced farm-level sustainability. In this study, we analysed the psychological and behavioural factors influencing farmers’ intention to take up long-term land leasing in Northern Ireland. To achieve our objective, we employed a mixed-methods approach and statistically analysed our quantitative data using an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) approach in a structural equation modelling framework. The results of our analyses showed that attitude, perceived behavioural control, subjective norm and perceived risk were statistically significant determinants of farmers’ intention to adopt long-term land leasing. The study results have important implications for the design of effective policies aimed at encouraging long-term land leasing through behavioural change to ensure sustainable agricultural production and effective land management.

Keywords: Conacre; Land tenure; Land reform; Northern Ireland; Structural equation modelling; Theory of planned behaviour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-024-04661-y

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