Groundwater Irrigation Management and the Existing Challenges from the Farmers’ Perspective in Iran

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Groundwater Irrigation Management and the Existing Challenges from the Farmers’ Perspective in Iran

Challenges in ​managing scarce ​water resources ​by farmers ​under increased ​impacts of ​climate change. ​

Authors :   Forough ​Jafary and ​Chris Bradley ​

(This article ​belongs to the ​Special Issue ​Arid Land ​Systems: ​Sciences and ​Societies) ​

Abstract: The ​sustainable ​management of ​natural ​resources, and ​particularly ​groundwater, ​presents a ​major challenge ​in arid regions ​to ensure ​security of ​water supply ​and support ​agricultural ​production. In ​many cases, the ​role of ​smallholder ​farmers is ​often neglected ​when managing ​irrigated water ​and land ​processes. ​However, ​management ​decisions have ​a major impact ​on farmers’​ livelihoods, ​and it is ​essential: ​first, to ​recognise the ​crucial role of ​regional and ​local social, ​political and ​economic ​systems; and ​second, to ​integrate ​farmers’ ​perspectives in ​the governance ​and management ​of local ​groundwater ​practices. This ​is particularly ​important as ​the ways in ​which arid ​region farmers ​use land and ​water have ​wider ​implications ​for land ​degradation and ​salinization. ​This paper uses ​a community-​based approach ​to identify and ​examine the ​social, ​economic and ​cultural ​dimensions to ​groundwater ​irrigation ​systems from ​the perspective ​of local ​farmers in ​central Iran. ​The paper ​utilises ​interviews with ​local farmers ​and water ​agencies in ​Iran to reflect ​on their ​respective ​roles within ​the irrigation ​system and in ​developing ​management ​plans for the ​sustainable use ​of groundwater. ​Through social ​research, we ​investigate the ​reasons why ​farmers might ​reject ​government ​irrigation ​management ​schemes and ​outline how ​local problems ​with land ​degradation and ​salinization ​and reduced ​water ​availability ​have arisen as ​a result of ​changing ​management ​policies. In ​conclusion, we ​identify future ​challenges and ​consider ​appropriate ​future ​management ​strategies.​  ​

Keywords: drip ​irrigation; ​groundwater; ​common-pool ​resource; water ​rights; local ​farming. ​

Citation: Jafary,​ F.; Bradley, C.​ Groundwater ​Irrigation ​Management and ​the Existing ​Challenges from ​the Farmers’​ Perspective in ​Central Iran. ​Land 2018, 7, ​15.

DOI  : 10.3390/land7010015 

Source  : MDPI 

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5 Comments

  1. Hello. I recently worked for the State with the Conservation Districts in Montana, USA. The producers here are well educated and the state and federal employees who work for the NRCS, DNRC, DEQ, and all other Ag related agencies are also well educated and are constantly trying new techniques to conserve water. Montana has many very arid regions and water conservation is always a big topic. Many stream restoration projects here are designed to help streams access flood plains to help in groundwater retention. Another current question is on the subject of sprinklers and pivots. Although these systems conserve water they also limit the amount reporting to groundwater. Flood irrigation allows some leakage back in to the groundwater system. Studies are being conducted here to quantify groundwater recharge observed between flood and sprinkler irrigation practices.

  3. Farmers are usually thought to be the least educated among us. But now we have found the absolute least educated. Government agencies. Farmers already know how to use and conserve fresh water. government programs interfere with this common sense practice.  "you control the weather pattern".  Save/use /bury trash/ builds compost, holds moisture/cause more humid conditions/ causes more rain, which is sequestered longer in vibrant new soil. Yes nature does eat all plastics. A good reason to talk with a scientist (microbiologist) instead of a lifelong politician. If any doubt check your middle school science books.  Today it is called bioremediation.