Measuring Agricultural Water Poverty Index Among Irrigated wheat Growers in Dezful County

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.S Student Department of Agricultural Extension and Education , Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 ramin university

3 Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural Extension and Education , Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran.

4 Associate Professor Department of Agricultural Extension and Education , Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Water management particularly in agricultural sector has been shown as an extensive debate which primarily depends on the holistic assessment of water resources combined with due attention to other involved aspects. Therefore, to address this issue a holistic way was regarded which crystalized in development of the Agricultural Water Poverty Index. . In line with this, a survey study was conducted to measure the agricultural water poverty in Dezful County. The study population consisted of all the irrigated wheat growers located throughout the County (N=5000). Using a systematic random sampling method a sample of 205 farmers based on Krejcie & Morgan table was selected. The main data was collected using a questionnaire and some other data including farms’ geographic information and water EC were gathered using GPS and Ecmeter devices, respectively. The validity of the study questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts.. Data Analysis was carried on by using a combination of software including SPSSv20, Super Decisions, and ArcGIS. Hence, the indicators of the index were weighted based on an analytical network process. After that, the agricultural water poverty was calculated for individual respondent farmers using a special formula. Results revealed that the causes of water poverty included the low farmers’ capacity to optimum water usage, low value of the environment component as well as the low rate of access to available water among farmers. Moreover, surface water resources (35.25), farmer’s access (51.85), human capital (40.67), and chemical herb-pesticides (90.74) ranked at first place among the other sub-components of resources, access, capacity, and environment, respectively. To recognize the hotspots dealt with water poverty, an agricultural water poverty map was provided. This map was regarded as a useful tool to reveal the water poverty causes in the study area. The study followed on the conclusion part in which the AWPI was regarded as an efficient and helpful tool to diagnose the water problems and to develop the appropriate policies and plans by decision and policy makers.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abbasi BK, and Gholami R, 2012. Ground Water Resources Management (Case Study: Khuzestan Province). Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 11(11), 1536-1541. (In Persian).
Asiabi-Hir R, Mostafazadeh R, Raoof M and Esmali Ouri A, 2017. Multi-criteria evaluation of water poverty index spatial variations in some watersheds of Ardabil Province. Ecohydrology. 4 (4): 997-1009. (In Persian).
Asiabi-Hir R, Mostafazadeh R, Raoof M and Esmali-Ouri A, 2015. Predicting drought using statistical methods and large-scale climate signals .Extension and Development of Watershed Management, 3(11): 17-23. (In Persian).
Bigdeli Z, and Rismanbaf A, 2012. Technical Information Management in Khuzestan Water and Power Authority. International Journal of Information Science and Management (IJISM), 7(1), 41-49. In Persian).
Cullis J, 2005. Water poverty mapping: development & introduction using a case study at the local municipal scale for the Eastern Cape. Working report to the Water Research Commission, WRC TT 250/05, Printed in the Republic of South.
Falkenmark M, 1989. The massive water scarcity now threatening Africa: why isn't it being addressed? Journal of the Human Environment.18 (2):112-118.
Forouzani M, and Karami E, 2011. Agricultural water poverty index & sustainability. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 31(2): 415–431. (In Persian).
Forouzani M, Karami E, and Zamani Gh H, 2013. Agricultural water poverty in Marvdasht County, Southern Iran. Water Policy.15 669–690. (In Persian).
Forouzani M, Karami E, Zibaei M, and Zamani GH, 2012. Agricultural water poverty index for a sustainable world. In Farming for Food and Water Security: 127-155 (In Persian).
Gleick PH, 1996. Basic water requirements for human activities: Meeting basic needs. Water international, 21(2), 83-92.
Hamdy A, Ragab R, and Scarascia-Mugnozza E, 2003. Coping with water scarcity: water saving & increasing water productivity, Irrigation Drainage. 52: 3–20.
Komnenic V, Ahlers R, and Zaag P V D, 2009. Assessing the usefulness of the water poverty index by applying it to a special case: Can one be water poor with high levels of access? Physics & Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 34(4): 219-224.
Lawrence PR, Meigh J, and Sullivan C, 2002. The water poverty index: an international comparison. Keele, Straffordshire, UK: Department of Economics, Keele University.‏ 1-17.
Li X, Wan J, and Jia J L, 2011. Application of the Water Poverty Index at the districts of Yellow River Basin. In Advanced Materials Research.Vol. 250: 3469-3474.
McNulty SG, Sun G, Myers JANM, Cohen EC, and Caldwell P, 2010. Robbing Peter to Pay Paul: tradeoffs between ecosystem carbon sequestration and water yield. Innovations in Watershed Management under Land Use and Climate Change. 103-114.‏
Namara RE, Hanjra MA, Castillo GE, Ravnborg HM, Smith L, and Van Koppen B, 2010. Agricultural water management & poverty linkages .Agricultural Water Management. 97(4): 520-527.
Namdari F, and Bakhshi S, 2014. Water resources management in drought conditions. Journal of Middle East Applied Science & Technology (JMEAST), Issue 10: 401-404. (In Persian).
Rijsberman FR, 2006. Water scarcity: fact or fiction? Agricultural water management. 80(1): 5-22.
Rockstrom J, Folke C, Gordon L, Hatibu N, Jewitt G, Penning de Vries F, Rwehumbiza F, Sally H, Savenije H, Schulze R, 2004. A watershed approach to upgrade rainfed agriculture in water scarce regions through Water System Innovations: an integrated research initiative on water for food & rural livelihoods in balance with ecosystem functions, Phys. Chem. Earth. 29, 1109–1118.
Salameh E, 2000. Redefining the water poverty index. Water International, 25(3): 469-473.
Sharifzadegan MH, Nedaie Tousi S and Jamali F, 2017. Identifying regional development limitations: Application of water poverty index to qazvin province of iran. Journal of Geography and Environmental Planning. 28 (1): 150-170. (In Persian).
Sullivan C, 2002. Calculating a water poverty index. World development, 30(7): 1195-1210.
Sullivan CA, Meigh JR, and Giacomello AM, et al, 2003. The water poverty index: development & application at the community scale. In Natural Resources Forum. 27 (3): 189-199.
UNESCO, 2006. United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization. Water a shared responsibility, The United Nations world water development report 2. UNESCO/Berghahn Books, Paris/New York.
United Nations, 2007. World population will increase by 2.5 billion by 2050; people over 60 to increase by more than billion. Meetings Coverage & Press Releases.
Villholth K, and Giordano M, 2007. Groundwater use in a global perspective – can it be managed? In: Giordano M, Villholth K. (Eds.) the Agricultural Groundwater Revolution: Opportunities & Threats to Development. International Water Management Institute.
Zarafshani K, and Saadvandi M, 2017. Determining Agricultural Water Poverty Index in Kermanshah Province: The case of Mahidasht Basin, Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology,
19, 541-552. (In Persian).
 
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
Volume 29, Issue 1
April 2019
Pages 285-304

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics