Social Sciences
M. Talebi; M. Zokaie; M. Fazeli; M. Jomehpoor
Abstract
The Zayandeh-Rood river basin is the only permanent and water-rich river in the central plateau in a densely populated area with a dry and semi-arid climate. Due to precise historical management and supervision, the social problems of water distribution rarely happened. However, since the mid-1980s, ...
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The Zayandeh-Rood river basin is the only permanent and water-rich river in the central plateau in a densely populated area with a dry and semi-arid climate. Due to precise historical management and supervision, the social problems of water distribution rarely happened. However, since the mid-1980s, the river has steadily lost its natural flow and has become seasonal river. Therefore, there have been many protests by stakeholder in the provinces. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reason for the water crisis in the Zayandeh-Rood river basin has occurred over the last two decades. The knowledge of water management is beyond the technical understanding of the subject, and it is an interdisciplinary science, so it should be considered in different fields. Thus, this article focuses on recognizing the water governance gap in the Zayandeh-Rood river basin in various sectors. The method used for this purpose, is analysis of documents, based on a comparative content analysis. Also we conducted interviews with 30 water experts in different districts and provinces (Isfahan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari). The results showed that water governance in the Zayandeh-Rood River basin resulted in various gaps, including executive gaps, targeting gaps, policy gaps, information gaps, capacity gaps, investment gaps, and responsibility gaps.
H. Sojasi Qeidari; T. Sadeqlou; R. Hosseini Kahnuj; K. Yazdani Marvi Langari
Abstract
Given that agriculture is the most important economic activity of villagers and the largest share of water consumption is in this sector, water scarcity in it can lead to serious crises such as political, economic, social and environmental tensions. And ... in the lives of humans, including rural villagers. ...
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Given that agriculture is the most important economic activity of villagers and the largest share of water consumption is in this sector, water scarcity in it can lead to serious crises such as political, economic, social and environmental tensions. And ... in the lives of humans, including rural villagers. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to analyze the social tensions caused by water scarcity among rural farmers in the Miyanjam rural. The method used is descriptive-analytical. The main tool for collecting data is a library method - documentary and field study using a questionnaire. For data processing and analysis of social tension, SPSS software was used and the PROMETHEE software was used to rank the villages. One-sample T test was used to study the variables of social tension due to water scarcity due to normal indices. Considering that the upper limit (1.1969) and the lower limit (0.3279) of indicators are positive and the mean of society in these indices is more than the test case, the results indicate that the mentioned indices in the studied villages in the middle position to the top. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient (0.395) was used to investigate the relationship between two variables of drought and social tension, which showed that as social dysfunctions increase, social tensions increase. The results of the Prometheus software show that the villages of Amghan and Kalateh Marvi have the highest net inflow due to social tension.
Abstract
Iran has reached critical level of water crisis, although long been facing water scarcity. Currently, the belief gained ground that the challenges of today and tomorrow are more related to poor governance than water shortage and the main strategy to cope with water crisis lies in water governance reform. ...
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Iran has reached critical level of water crisis, although long been facing water scarcity. Currently, the belief gained ground that the challenges of today and tomorrow are more related to poor governance than water shortage and the main strategy to cope with water crisis lies in water governance reform. The new research agenda of water governance underlines on interdisciplinary examination of theories drawn from public economics, institutional economics, political economy and public administration. The aim of this study is to analysis the past and present sustainability of water governance in Zayandeh-Rood basin. By combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, data were collected through documentary and survey research by structured interviews with 171 farmers and 68 experts. The results showed that the current water governance is not favorable with equity, effectiveness and efficiency, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, coherency, participation and rule of law principles. Further, this study tried to explain the fundamental principles of sustainability in traditional water governance which can facilitate the transition to effective and fit-for-purpose water governance.
S. Saraei; H. Afrakhteh; V. Riahi; H. Jalalian
Abstract
The dependence of the agricultural sector to water input is undeniable. In the era of information and communication, due to population growth and limited water resources, it is essential to employee information and communication technologies in order to provide food for people. This interdisciplinary ...
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The dependence of the agricultural sector to water input is undeniable. In the era of information and communication, due to population growth and limited water resources, it is essential to employee information and communication technologies in order to provide food for people. This interdisciplinary article, considering Agricultural, Information Technology, Management and Geography sciences; has tried to analyze the role of ICT in agricultural water use optimization using soft system approach that is the methodology of systematic thinking approach in management science. The issue of water use in agriculture has structural complexity, and the different stakeholders, have different views on it. Therefore, it is considered a soft issue. In this study, the basic question is answered that ICT through what mechanism could help to refine the pattern of water use in agriculture. The population of the study was all the farmers located in the Gavkhooni zone (N =145381) and a number of statistical sample was estimated at 383 using Cochran's formula. Using questionnaire required information was collected. Also, using semi-structured interviews with experts and officials of relevant agencies, stakeholders' views on the issue were identified. In the end, some suggestions for how to use ICT to solve this problem are presented. The results showed that from the viewpoints of stakeholders, an irrigation system through notification to farmers can help them in decision-making related to irrigation and can be effective in the amount of water use by farmers. Of course, setting up such a system demands of coordination between the concerned authorities and training the primary consumers.