1- Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
2- Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
2- Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
Abstract: (498 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: The water scarcity crisis and the associated complexities of solving the problems caused by this crisis require a comprehensive view and a spatial scale larger than the farm view, namely, the basin scale. The increasing water consumption, on the one hand, and the limitation of available water resources, on the other hand, has made the management, exploitation, and consumption of water by traditional methods unresponsive and its imbalance is progressively worsening the water crisis in Iran. However, the approach of using science and technology and having a related program for the optimal use of water and improving water productivity at the basin scale can certainly play a key role in solving this crisis. Therefore, this research mainly aims to identify and determine science and technology priorities, select strategic options, and ultimately provide science and technology solutions for water management at the basin scale.
Methods: The research method included holding brainstorming sessions and using the opinions of experts (25 persons), along with various scientific sources and strategic planning methods, SWOT analysis, and a balanced scorecard. The scope of activities and planning, definitions, and terminology, as well as the working method, were discussed and exchanged through brainstorming sessions. Then, the general activities of the related research, some results of which are presented in this paper, were determined in the form of the following steps and carried out in the following order: 1) A review of the literature, 2), a review of macro-level documents, 3) a review of the current situation (research and implementation), 4) a review of issues and problems, 5) the identification of main water challenges, 6) the identification of water management technology challenges in the basin, 7) conducting SWOT analysis, 8) determining the goals, 9) determining main strategies, and 10) determine actions or measures.
Results: Accordingly, six main water management strategies were identified at this scale, which are listed in order of priority: 1) improving and developing watershed management methods and technologies to balance aquifers, 2) developing and improving water exploitation methods at the basin level, 3) improving water productivity at the basin level, 4) developing flood management technologies, 5) understanding and modeling watershed hydrological processes, and 6) improving water quality at the basin level. The solutions/measures required to operationalize these strategies were identified as a total of 30 solutions, which were prioritized separately for each main strategy, followed by drawing the causality network between them. Using the SWOT analysis method, the necessary analyses were conducted on the strengths-weaknesses as internal factors and opportunities-threats as external factors affecting basin water management. Based on the results, a competitive overall strategy (ST) should be selected for water management at the basin scale from the science and technology perspectives, that is, the maximum use of internal factors to prevent major threats from external factors. Based on this main strategy and the maximum score of internal and external factors, high-priority strategic options were selected, which include, for example: 1) the appropriate and optimal use of specialized personnel within the set of affiliated and subordinate research institutions, centers, and units of the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO) to improve water productivity at the basin scale, and 2) utilizing the coherent organizational structure and the numerous academic members of the AREEO organization to prevent decisions and actions by numerous informal and irresponsible organizations in the field of research and technology in the agricultural sector and natural resources of the country.
Conclusions: In arid and semi-arid countries such as Iran, which face severe water shortages and low water productivity in agriculture and natural resources, increasing water productivity, using up-to-date knowledge and technologies, and having a science and technology program are essential for solving the water crisis. The issues and problems of the country's water sector should be examined with a comprehensive and integrated approach at both farm and basin scales together. Six main strategies were identified to address science and technology issues at the basin scale, with the first priority strategy in this context being the improvement and development of watershed management methods and technologies to balance the aquifers. Moreover, the highest priority actions or measures for each of the six main strategies identified are in the areas and components related to the optimal patterns of the comprehensive management of water resources and uses, technologies for rainwater harvesting systems, technologies for reducing evaporation, technologies for monitoring and early warning of climatic events, studying the effects of climate change on the hydrology of basins, and technologies for monitoring and assessing pollution of water and soil resources in the basin, respectively.
Based on the SWOT analysis, a competitive strategy should be selected to address science and technology issues at the basin scale. Therefore, the system should use internal strengths to prevent major external threats. The major threat in this regard is the low water productivity at the basin scale, which can be addressed, and the basin's water productivity can be improved by a set of strengths. These include the strength with the greatest score, namely the presence of specialized personnel in the set of institutions, centers, and research units affiliated and subordinate to the AREEO.
Background: The water scarcity crisis and the associated complexities of solving the problems caused by this crisis require a comprehensive view and a spatial scale larger than the farm view, namely, the basin scale. The increasing water consumption, on the one hand, and the limitation of available water resources, on the other hand, has made the management, exploitation, and consumption of water by traditional methods unresponsive and its imbalance is progressively worsening the water crisis in Iran. However, the approach of using science and technology and having a related program for the optimal use of water and improving water productivity at the basin scale can certainly play a key role in solving this crisis. Therefore, this research mainly aims to identify and determine science and technology priorities, select strategic options, and ultimately provide science and technology solutions for water management at the basin scale.
Methods: The research method included holding brainstorming sessions and using the opinions of experts (25 persons), along with various scientific sources and strategic planning methods, SWOT analysis, and a balanced scorecard. The scope of activities and planning, definitions, and terminology, as well as the working method, were discussed and exchanged through brainstorming sessions. Then, the general activities of the related research, some results of which are presented in this paper, were determined in the form of the following steps and carried out in the following order: 1) A review of the literature, 2), a review of macro-level documents, 3) a review of the current situation (research and implementation), 4) a review of issues and problems, 5) the identification of main water challenges, 6) the identification of water management technology challenges in the basin, 7) conducting SWOT analysis, 8) determining the goals, 9) determining main strategies, and 10) determine actions or measures.
Results: Accordingly, six main water management strategies were identified at this scale, which are listed in order of priority: 1) improving and developing watershed management methods and technologies to balance aquifers, 2) developing and improving water exploitation methods at the basin level, 3) improving water productivity at the basin level, 4) developing flood management technologies, 5) understanding and modeling watershed hydrological processes, and 6) improving water quality at the basin level. The solutions/measures required to operationalize these strategies were identified as a total of 30 solutions, which were prioritized separately for each main strategy, followed by drawing the causality network between them. Using the SWOT analysis method, the necessary analyses were conducted on the strengths-weaknesses as internal factors and opportunities-threats as external factors affecting basin water management. Based on the results, a competitive overall strategy (ST) should be selected for water management at the basin scale from the science and technology perspectives, that is, the maximum use of internal factors to prevent major threats from external factors. Based on this main strategy and the maximum score of internal and external factors, high-priority strategic options were selected, which include, for example: 1) the appropriate and optimal use of specialized personnel within the set of affiliated and subordinate research institutions, centers, and units of the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO) to improve water productivity at the basin scale, and 2) utilizing the coherent organizational structure and the numerous academic members of the AREEO organization to prevent decisions and actions by numerous informal and irresponsible organizations in the field of research and technology in the agricultural sector and natural resources of the country.
Conclusions: In arid and semi-arid countries such as Iran, which face severe water shortages and low water productivity in agriculture and natural resources, increasing water productivity, using up-to-date knowledge and technologies, and having a science and technology program are essential for solving the water crisis. The issues and problems of the country's water sector should be examined with a comprehensive and integrated approach at both farm and basin scales together. Six main strategies were identified to address science and technology issues at the basin scale, with the first priority strategy in this context being the improvement and development of watershed management methods and technologies to balance the aquifers. Moreover, the highest priority actions or measures for each of the six main strategies identified are in the areas and components related to the optimal patterns of the comprehensive management of water resources and uses, technologies for rainwater harvesting systems, technologies for reducing evaporation, technologies for monitoring and early warning of climatic events, studying the effects of climate change on the hydrology of basins, and technologies for monitoring and assessing pollution of water and soil resources in the basin, respectively.
Based on the SWOT analysis, a competitive strategy should be selected to address science and technology issues at the basin scale. Therefore, the system should use internal strengths to prevent major external threats. The major threat in this regard is the low water productivity at the basin scale, which can be addressed, and the basin's water productivity can be improved by a set of strengths. These include the strength with the greatest score, namely the presence of specialized personnel in the set of institutions, centers, and research units affiliated and subordinate to the AREEO.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
مديريت حوزه های آبخيز
Received: 2025/07/16 | Accepted: 2025/10/29
Received: 2025/07/16 | Accepted: 2025/10/29
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
