Challenges of Irrigation Water Supply in Croplands of Arid Regions and their Environmental Consequences – A Case Study in the Dez and Moghan Command Areas of Iran
Renewable water resources are crucial production
variables in arid and semi-arid regions where intensive agriculture is
practiced to meet ever-increasing demand for food and fiber. This is
crucial for the Dez and Moghan command areas where water delivery
problems and adverse environmental issues are widespread. This
paper aims to identify major problems areas using on-farm surveys of
200 farmers, agricultural extensionists and water suppliers which was
complemented by secondary data and field observations during 2010-
2011 cultivating season. The SPSS package was used to analyze and
synthesis data. Results indicated inappropriate canal operations in
both schemes, though there was no unanimity about the underlying
causes. Inequitable and inflexible distribution was found to be rooted
in deficient hydraulic structures particularly in the main and
secondary canals. The inadequacy and inflexibility of water
scheduling regime was the underlying causes of recurring pest and
disease spread which often led to the decline of crop yield and
quality, although these were not disputed, the water suppliers were
not prepared to link with the deficiencies in the operation of the main
and secondary canals. They rather attributed these to the prevailing
salinity; alkalinity, water table fluctuations and leaching of the
valuable agro-chemical inputs from the plants- route zone with farreaching
consequences. Examples of these include the pollution of
ground and surface resources due to over-irrigation at the farm level
which falls under the growers- own responsibility. Poor irrigation
efficiency and adverse environmental problems were attributed to
deficient and outdated farming practices that were in turn rooted in
poor extension programs and irrational water charges.
[1] N. Hedayat, Improving the performance of water delivery in the Dez and
Moghan irrigation schemes in Iran. Unpublished PhD thesis, Cranfield
University, UK. , (2005).
[2] Tibor, G.J; Grigg, N.S; Helweg, O.J; Plusquellec, H; Burt, C M;
Merriam, J.L; and
[3] B. Lankford, and J. Gowing, (1996). The impact of design
approximations on the operational performance of an irrigation scheme.
A case study in Malaysia. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 10, , (1996),
p 193.
[4] F.N. Kerlinger, and H. Lee, Foundations of Behavioral Research, Fourth
Edition, Harcourt College Publishers, USA, (2000).
[5] A. Field, Discovering statistics using SPSS for Windows, (2000).
[6] C. Butcher, Stakeholder Analysis, Guidance Notes. Drawn from a
Technical Note on Enhancing Stakeholder, (2002). Participation (DFID,
1995), Guidance Manual on Water Supply and Sanitation programs
(DFID/WELL, 1998) and Working Paper prepared for ODIO Holbey
Shield Associates. (2000).
[7] H. Shirin, Simulation of sedimentation process in the Eastern cnal intake
using the SHARC Model- A case study of the Dez diversion dam in Iran,
(2009)..
[8] M. Bhutta, and E.J. Van Der Valde, Equity of water distribution along
secondary canals in Punjab, Pakistan: In Irrigation and Drainage
Systems 6, , (1992), p 161.
[9] The World Bank, Asia Water Resources Study. Volume I: Main Report"
Asia Technical Department, Washington, D.C, USA, (1992a).
[10] The World Bank , Asia Water Resources Study. Volume II: Asia
Technical Department, Washington, D.C. (1992 b).
[11] H. Plusquellec, Improving the Operations of Canal Irrigation System.
The Economic Development Institute and The Agriculture and Rural
Development Department of the World Bank. Washington D.C. (1988).
[12] V. Rudge, and J. Gowing, The Development of Framer Organised
Abstraction Groups in East Anglia. In the Journal of the UK Irrigation
Association, No 30, 2002, p 2.
[13] S.G. Dhillon, and T.C. Paul, Water delivery models for irrigation
projects. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 2, (1988). p 43
[14] A.D. Beadle, M.A. Burton, I.K. Smout, and M.J. Snell, Integration of
engineering, institutional and social requirements into rehabilitation
design: A case study from Nepal .In Irrigation and Drainage Systems 2,
(1988), p 79.
[15] M.A. Burton, and C.K Chiza, Water, conflict and environment: A case
study from Tanzania. In Water: Economics, Management and Demand,
Ed. Kay.M, Franks.T, and Smith, L.London: E&FN Spoon, (1997).
[16] C.R. Ali, M. Ashraf, T. Trout, W.A Mohsen,. M, Ahmad, M.A. Anwar ,
and M.W. Khan, Operational irrigation evaluations of three watercourse
systems. Survey and research Organization, master planning and Review
division. Publication No.1lahore: Pakistan Water and Power
Development Authority: In Bhutta, M and Van Der Valde, E.J. (1992).
Equity of water distribution along secondary canals in Punjab, Pakistan:
In Irrigation and Drainage Systems6, 1978 p 161-.
[17] V. Rudge, and J. Gowing, The Development of Framer Organised
Abstraction Groups in East Anglia. In the Journal of the UK Irrigation
Association, No 30,2002, p 2.
[18] ,P Faeth, Agricultural policy and sustainability : case studies from India,
Chile and the US. World Resource Institute. Washington DC. (1993).
[19] S.M.F. Islam, Modern technology adoption and sustainability of major
food grains production in Bangladesh, Research Report, Department of
agricultural Economics, BMSR Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur,
Bangladesh, (1998).
[20] H.M. Malano and G. Gao, Ranking and classification of irrigation
system performance using fuzzy set theory: case studies in Australia and
China: In irrigation and Drainage Systems 6, (1992), p129.
[21] T. Tanton, Developing the Aral Sea Basin. Paper presented at ICID
technical meeting 16 Oct. 2002 ,ICE,London,UK. (2002).
[22] E. Wolff, .Irrigation and Drainage in the Amu Darya Basin, in
Uzbekistan, (2002). (ICID Research Day, 19 March 2002, HR
Wallingford, UK).
[23] D. Clark, Irrigation along the Syr Dara River. ICID News and Reviews,
Issue 31spring 2001.Accessed
http://www.icid.org.uk/newsandviews/31/worldw00.pdf
[24] F, Van steenbergen. and W. Oliemans. A review of policies in
groundwater management in Pakistan, 1950-2000. water policy 4(4),
323-344.
[1] N. Hedayat, Improving the performance of water delivery in the Dez and
Moghan irrigation schemes in Iran. Unpublished PhD thesis, Cranfield
University, UK. , (2005).
[2] Tibor, G.J; Grigg, N.S; Helweg, O.J; Plusquellec, H; Burt, C M;
Merriam, J.L; and
[3] B. Lankford, and J. Gowing, (1996). The impact of design
approximations on the operational performance of an irrigation scheme.
A case study in Malaysia. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 10, , (1996),
p 193.
[4] F.N. Kerlinger, and H. Lee, Foundations of Behavioral Research, Fourth
Edition, Harcourt College Publishers, USA, (2000).
[5] A. Field, Discovering statistics using SPSS for Windows, (2000).
[6] C. Butcher, Stakeholder Analysis, Guidance Notes. Drawn from a
Technical Note on Enhancing Stakeholder, (2002). Participation (DFID,
1995), Guidance Manual on Water Supply and Sanitation programs
(DFID/WELL, 1998) and Working Paper prepared for ODIO Holbey
Shield Associates. (2000).
[7] H. Shirin, Simulation of sedimentation process in the Eastern cnal intake
using the SHARC Model- A case study of the Dez diversion dam in Iran,
(2009)..
[8] M. Bhutta, and E.J. Van Der Valde, Equity of water distribution along
secondary canals in Punjab, Pakistan: In Irrigation and Drainage
Systems 6, , (1992), p 161.
[9] The World Bank, Asia Water Resources Study. Volume I: Main Report"
Asia Technical Department, Washington, D.C, USA, (1992a).
[10] The World Bank , Asia Water Resources Study. Volume II: Asia
Technical Department, Washington, D.C. (1992 b).
[11] H. Plusquellec, Improving the Operations of Canal Irrigation System.
The Economic Development Institute and The Agriculture and Rural
Development Department of the World Bank. Washington D.C. (1988).
[12] V. Rudge, and J. Gowing, The Development of Framer Organised
Abstraction Groups in East Anglia. In the Journal of the UK Irrigation
Association, No 30, 2002, p 2.
[13] S.G. Dhillon, and T.C. Paul, Water delivery models for irrigation
projects. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 2, (1988). p 43
[14] A.D. Beadle, M.A. Burton, I.K. Smout, and M.J. Snell, Integration of
engineering, institutional and social requirements into rehabilitation
design: A case study from Nepal .In Irrigation and Drainage Systems 2,
(1988), p 79.
[15] M.A. Burton, and C.K Chiza, Water, conflict and environment: A case
study from Tanzania. In Water: Economics, Management and Demand,
Ed. Kay.M, Franks.T, and Smith, L.London: E&FN Spoon, (1997).
[16] C.R. Ali, M. Ashraf, T. Trout, W.A Mohsen,. M, Ahmad, M.A. Anwar ,
and M.W. Khan, Operational irrigation evaluations of three watercourse
systems. Survey and research Organization, master planning and Review
division. Publication No.1lahore: Pakistan Water and Power
Development Authority: In Bhutta, M and Van Der Valde, E.J. (1992).
Equity of water distribution along secondary canals in Punjab, Pakistan:
In Irrigation and Drainage Systems6, 1978 p 161-.
[17] V. Rudge, and J. Gowing, The Development of Framer Organised
Abstraction Groups in East Anglia. In the Journal of the UK Irrigation
Association, No 30,2002, p 2.
[18] ,P Faeth, Agricultural policy and sustainability : case studies from India,
Chile and the US. World Resource Institute. Washington DC. (1993).
[19] S.M.F. Islam, Modern technology adoption and sustainability of major
food grains production in Bangladesh, Research Report, Department of
agricultural Economics, BMSR Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur,
Bangladesh, (1998).
[20] H.M. Malano and G. Gao, Ranking and classification of irrigation
system performance using fuzzy set theory: case studies in Australia and
China: In irrigation and Drainage Systems 6, (1992), p129.
[21] T. Tanton, Developing the Aral Sea Basin. Paper presented at ICID
technical meeting 16 Oct. 2002 ,ICE,London,UK. (2002).
[22] E. Wolff, .Irrigation and Drainage in the Amu Darya Basin, in
Uzbekistan, (2002). (ICID Research Day, 19 March 2002, HR
Wallingford, UK).
[23] D. Clark, Irrigation along the Syr Dara River. ICID News and Reviews,
Issue 31spring 2001.Accessed
http://www.icid.org.uk/newsandviews/31/worldw00.pdf
[24] F, Van steenbergen. and W. Oliemans. A review of policies in
groundwater management in Pakistan, 1950-2000. water policy 4(4),
323-344.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:53373", author = "Lobat Taghavi and Najaf Hedayat", title = "Challenges of Irrigation Water Supply in Croplands of Arid Regions and their Environmental Consequences – A Case Study in the Dez and Moghan Command Areas of Iran", abstract = "Renewable water resources are crucial production
variables in arid and semi-arid regions where intensive agriculture is
practiced to meet ever-increasing demand for food and fiber. This is
crucial for the Dez and Moghan command areas where water delivery
problems and adverse environmental issues are widespread. This
paper aims to identify major problems areas using on-farm surveys of
200 farmers, agricultural extensionists and water suppliers which was
complemented by secondary data and field observations during 2010-
2011 cultivating season. The SPSS package was used to analyze and
synthesis data. Results indicated inappropriate canal operations in
both schemes, though there was no unanimity about the underlying
causes. Inequitable and inflexible distribution was found to be rooted
in deficient hydraulic structures particularly in the main and
secondary canals. The inadequacy and inflexibility of water
scheduling regime was the underlying causes of recurring pest and
disease spread which often led to the decline of crop yield and
quality, although these were not disputed, the water suppliers were
not prepared to link with the deficiencies in the operation of the main
and secondary canals. They rather attributed these to the prevailing
salinity; alkalinity, water table fluctuations and leaching of the
valuable agro-chemical inputs from the plants- route zone with farreaching
consequences. Examples of these include the pollution of
ground and surface resources due to over-irrigation at the farm level
which falls under the growers- own responsibility. Poor irrigation
efficiency and adverse environmental problems were attributed to
deficient and outdated farming practices that were in turn rooted in
poor extension programs and irrational water charges.", keywords = "water delivery, inequity, inflexibility, conflicts,environmental impact, Dez and Moghan", volume = "5", number = "7", pages = "385-6", }