Abstract
This paper aims to statistically analyze the influence of nonfarmers' socioeconomic characteristics on their participation in maintenance activities for agricultural canals that harmonize with the ecological system. The study involves two hundred and twenty-one nonfarmers living in the central area of T town, which is classified as a flat agricultural area, in Miyagi prefecture. These nonfarmers participated in the maintenance activities of agricultural canals that did not harmonize with the ecological system. After analyzing the data using an ordered probit model and a binary probit model, the following results are obtained. In order to strengthen nonfarmers' participation in activities for the agricultural canal that harmonizes with the ecological system, it will be important to disseminate information about agriculture around themselves to them, to induced them to participate once in an easy maintenance activity, and to increase their interest in multifunctional roles of and problems related to the agricultural canal or provide them with the opportunity to directly use the agricultural canal.
