Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

News

Manuscript Submission Guideline

Accepted Manuscript Guideline

Guidelines and Instructions

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

Evaluate the usage of information and communication technology in agricultural water use optimization using soft system approach

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor of Geography and & Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor of Geography and & Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Geography & Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor of geography & rural planning, faculty of geographical science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

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 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.

Keywords

References
Afrakhteh, H. (2016). Tahavvol-e joghrāfiyā be onvān-e elmi miyānreštei [Transformation of geography as an interdisciplinary science]. Journal of Motāle'āt-e Miyānreštei dar Olum-e Ensāni/Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities, 8(2), 119-132. doi: 10.22035/isih.2016.219
Arbabian, M. A., Tabesh, M., & Jalali, A. A. (2004). Gyandoot India: Yek tajrobe-ye movaffaq-e towse'e-ye Fanāvari-ye Ettelā'āt va Ertebātāt dar Jahān [Gyandoot in India: A successful experience of ICT development in the world]. In: Majmu'e Maqālāt-e Hamāyeš-e Kārbord-e Fanāvari-ye Ettelā'āt va Ertebātāt dar Rustā [The Iranian Conferance on ICT Applications for Rural Areas-RICT 2004] (pp. 109-115), Electronic Research Center, Feb. 2004, Iran University of Science & Technology.
Babaei, M., Mardani, M., & Salarpour, M. (2014). Mohāsebe-ye kārāyi-ye āb dar mahsulāt-e omde-ye kešāvarzi-ye šahrestān-e Zabol: Rahyāft-e tahlil-e pušeši-ye dādehā [Computing efficiency of water in the main products of Zabol district using data envelopment analysis]. Journal of Pažuheš-e Āb dar Kešāvarzi/Water Research in Agriculture, 28.3(3), 541-549.
Barani, H., & GHodsi, H. (2004). Bimhā va omidhā dar towse'e-ye Fanāvari-ye Ettelā'āt va Ertebātāt dar rustā [Fears and hopes in the development of ICT in rural areas]. In: Majmu'e Maqālāt-e Hamāyeš-e Kārbord-e Fanāvari-ye Ettelā'āt va Ertebātāt dar Rustā [The Iranian Conferance on ICT Applications for Rural Areas-RICT 2004] (pp. 3-8), Electronic Research Center, Feb. 2004, Iran University of Science & Technology.
Bordbar, M., Solooki, M., & Bordbar, B. (2010). Rāhkārhā va ravešhā-ye kārbordi barāye masraf-e behine-ye āb dar baxš-e kešāvarzi [Solutions and applications to optimize water use in agriculture]. In: Majmu'e Maqālāt-e Hamāyeš-e Melli-ye Modiriyat-e Bohrān-e Āb [The National Conference on Water Crisis Management], Feb. 2010, Islamic Azad University of Marvdasht.
Castells, M. (2001). Asr-e ettelā'āt: Eqtesād, jāme'e va farhang, zohur-e jāme'e-ye šabakei [The information age: Economy, society and culture, social networking advent] (Vol. 1; A. Aligholian, & A. Khakbaz, Trans.). Tehran, Iran: Tarh-e Now/New Plan Publications.
Castells, M. (2003). Goft-o-gu-ye extesāsi bā Manuel Castells: Nemitavān payām rā nābud kard [Exclusive interview with Manuel Castells: The message can not be destroyed] (A. Jahandideh, Trans.). Iran Newspaper, 2615, 2003. Oct. Tuesday.
Checkland, P. (1981). Systems thinking, systems practice. Wiley, Chichester, (163–164).
Farhoodi, M., & Mahmoodi, M. (2009). Čālešhā va rāhkārhā-ye estefāde az fanāvari-ye ettelā'āt dar eslāh-e olgu-ye masraf [Challenges and solutions using information technology in reforming consumption patterns]. In: Majmu'e Maqālāt-e Hamāyeš-e Melli-ye Tabyin-e Elmi-ye Eslāh-e Olgu-ye Masraf [National Conference of Scientific Explanation Reforming Consumption Patterns], Pardis-e Behshahr, Feb. 2009, Bahshahr University of Science and Technology. 
Farias Gomes, S., Oliveira Andrade, A. L., & Costa Morais, D. (2015).Using soft systems methodology on the problem of water scarcity. IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. Retrieved from Iran library: (www.libdl.ir) | Sponsor: Tehran Business School.
Gelb, E., & Bonati, G. (2007). Evaluating internet for extension in agriculture. Journal of Competence for Rural Innovation and Transformation, 5(3), 211-216. doi: 10.1080/13892249885300321
Gheytooli, M., & Mohammadi, Gh. (2009). Eslāh-e olgu-ye modiriyat-e masraf-e āb dar baxš-e kešāvarzi mehvar-e towse'e-ye pāydār-e manābe'-e ābi-ye kešvar [Reform of water use management in agriculture, centere of sustainable development of water resources]. In: Majmu'e Maqālāt-e Hamāyeš-e Melli-ye Olguhā-ye Towse'e-ye Pāydār dar Modiriyat-e Āb [National Conference on Sustainable Development Patterns in Water Management], Feb. 2009, Mahāb Sāmen Consulting Engineers Company, Mashhad, Iran.
Haghighati, B. (2013). Behbud-e modiriyat va masraf-e behine-ye āb dar farāyand-e towlid-e mahsulāt-e kešāvarzi [Improvemant the management and optimize water use in the production process of agricultural products]. Gozāreš-e Tarh-e Tarviji, Vezārat-e Jahād-e Kešāvarzi, Markaz-e Tahqiqāt-e Kešāvarzi va Manābe'-e Tabi'i-ye Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari/Extension Project Report, Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.
Khalili, D. (2016). Čālešhā-ye farāvari-ye modiriyat-e manābe'-e āb dar šarāyet-e xošksāli dar Iran [Challenges facing water resources management under drought conditions in Iran]. Journal of Pažuhešhā-ye Rāhbordi dar Olum-e Kešāvarzi va Manābe'-e Tabi'i/Strategic Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 1(2), 149-164.
Kiyani, Gh., & Seyedivind, N. (2013). Tahlil-e olgu-ye masraf-e āb dar Iran bā estefāde az šāxes-e a'dād [Analyses of water consumption pattern in Iran: An index number approach]. Journal of Eqtesād-e Manābe'e Tabi'i/Economic of Natural Resources, 2(1), 22-30.
Maroofi, E. (2014). Zaminehā-ye estefāde az Fanāvarihā-ye Ettelā'āt va Ertebātāt dar modiriyat-e kešāvarzi [Application of IT in agricultural management]. Journal of Nezām-e Mohandesi-ye Kešāvarzi va Manābe'-e Tabi'i/Agriculture and Natural Resources Engineering Quarterly, 12(45), 46-50.
Moradi, M., Azarpoor, E., Bozorgi, H. R., & Mohammadian, N. (2010). Fanāvari-ye Ettelā'āt va Ertebātāt kelid-e towse'e-ye kešāvarzi dar ofoq-e 1404 gāmi be suy-e eslāh-e olgu-ye masraf-e enerži [ICT: Agricultural development key in 1404, step toward reforming the pattern of energy consumption]. In: Majmu'e Maqālāt-e Hamāyeš-e Melli-ye Sahm-e Kešāvarzi va Manābe'-e Tabi'i dar Towse'e-ye Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Iran [National Conference Contribution of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Development of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1404] (pp. 149-150), Sep. 2010, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran.
Ommani, A. R., & Chizari, M. (2008). Information dissemination system (IDS) based e-learning in agricultural of Iran (perception of Iranian extension agents). International Journal of Human and Social Sciences, 2(3), 129-133.
Rahimi, A. R. (2015). Tašakkol-e ābbarān olguyi barāye mošārekat-e kešāvarzān dar modiriyat-e masraf-e āb [Water users' formations, model for farmers' participation in water use management]. Pāygāh-e Xabari Tahlili-ye Kešāvarzān-e Iran va Jahān-e Eslām/News and Analysis Base of Iran and the Muslim World Farmers, September 2016. Reterived from http://www.agripress.ir
Sabouhi, M., Khanjari, S., & Keykha, A. A. (2010). Barresi-ye kārāyi-ye masraf-e āb dar golxānehā-ye Sistan [Studying efficiency of water use in Sistan greenhouses]. Journal of Eqtesād-e Kešāvarzi/Agricultural economics, 4(3), 91-102.
Saiyadbidhendi, L., Eskandarinoode, M., & Khani, F. (2012). Barresi-ye qābeliyathā-ye fanāvari-ye ettelā'āt va ertebātāt dar tavānmandsāzi-ye zanān-e rustāyi motāle'e-ye mowredi: Baxš-e markazi-ye šahrestān-e Lahijan [Potential of ICT in empowering rural women case study: the central part of Lahijan]. Journal of Motāle'āt-e Miyānreštei dar Olum-e Ensāni/Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities, 4(3), 119-146. doi: 10.7508/isih.2012.15.006
Shahrestani, H. (2014). Sāzmāndehi va modiriyat-e masraf-e behine-ye āb dar baxš-e kešāvarzi [Organizing and management of water optimum consumption]. Journal of Mohandesi-ye Kešāvarzi va Manābe'-e Tabi'i/Agriculture and Natural Resources Engineering Quarterly, 12(45), 37-41.
Siau, K., & Tan, X. (2005). Improving the quality of conceptual modeling using cognitive mapping techniques. Data & Knowledge Engineering, 55(3), 343-365. doi: 10.1016/j.datak.2004.12.006
Xuegong, X., Lisheng, H., Huiping, L., & Wenzheng, L. (2006). Zoning of sustainable agricultural development in China. Agricultural Systems, 87(1), 38-62.
Yekom Consulting Engineers (2012). Gozāreš-e motāle'āt-e jam'iyat-e howze-ye Ābriz-e Gavkhoni tā sāl-e 2006 [Gavkhoni catchment population studies report to 1385]. Mo'assese-ye Tahqiqāt-e Āb, Daftar-e Barnāmerizi-ye Kalān-e Āb va Ābfā, Vezārat-e Niru/Water Research Institute, Water and ABFA Macro Planning Office, Ministry of Energy.
Send comment about this article
CAPTCHA Image
Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities
Volume 9, Issue 4 - Serial Number 36
October 2017
Pages 49-70
Files
History
  • Receive Date: 20 July 2016
  • Revise Date: 15 July 2017
  • Accept Date: 22 October 2017
Share
How to cite
Statistics