تحلیل عوامل مؤثر بر مشارکت انجیرکاران در حفظ و توسعه‌ روش‌ آبیاری مبتنی بر دانش بومی (مطالعه‌ی موردی: استهبان فارس)

نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

• سید شهاب میرباقری
• ایرج صالح
• حامد رفیعی
• سعید یزدانی

گروه اقتصاد کشاورزی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه تهران، کرج، ایران

چکیده

کلیدواژه‌ها

• استحصال آب باران
• انجیرکاران
• دانش بومی
• استهبان

موضوعات

• اقتصاد کشاورزی، ترویج و آموزش کشاورزی، توسعه پایدار ، توسعه روستایی ، کارآفرینی و ....

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Given the constraints of water resources in the country, water conservation and water resource management are of great importance. One solution that can help with water management in the agricultural sector is the use of integrated water resource management, which involves the participation of stakeholders. A successful example of integrated water resource management is the use of indigenous knowledge among rural communities.

Studies conducted in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nepal, the United States, Australia, and Canada all emphasize the role of indigenous knowledge in the development of sustainable water management strategies and equitable distribution. Indigenous knowledge also has great potential in various areas of water management, such as irrigation system management, sustainable construction methods for irrigation systems, and adaptation to climate change.

Given the importance of indigenous knowledge in water management, understanding the factors that influence the participation of local communities in the maintenance and development of water management methods (both traditional and modern methods) is a crucial question. This study addresses this question by using the Order Logit method to examine the factors affecting the participation of fig growers in the maintenance and development of rainwater harvesting native methods in the Estahban region.

Research Methodology

Considering the objective of this study, which is to examine the factors affecting the participation of fig growers in the maintenance and development of rainwater harvesting native methods in Estahban, a questionnaire was edited based on previous studies conducted both domestically and internationally, as well as the opinions of experts and university professors. After an initial visit to the study area and interviews with experienced fig growers, and experts from the Agricultural Jihad and Natural Resources, the questionnaire was modified to be suitable for the local conditions and was designed as the final questionnaire. Based on the Cochran method, the sample size was determined to be 322. Then convenient and random sampling methods were used to complete the questionnaire. After completing the questionnaires and conducting initial analysis in Excel software, 300 fully completed questionnaires were used. In addition, the Order Logit method was used to investigate the factors affecting the participation of fig growers in the maintenance and development of knowledge-based irrigation native method.

Findings

The adjusted McFadden and McFadden statistics in the estimated model have values of 0.404 and 0.391, respectively, which indicates a good fit of the pattern. Additionally, the value of the Kant statistic is 0.737, indicating a high percentage of correct pattern predictions. In the evaluation model, out of 16 independent variables, 14 were significant and only two variables (percentage of family labor use and fig growers' assessment of the region's climatic and weather conditions) were not significant. Variables such as the number of land parcels and having non-agricultural activities at the 1% significance level are negatively signed, in other words, the increase in the level of these variables increases the likelihood that the fig growers at the lower levels of willingness to participate in the maintenance and development of the rainwater harvesting method. This means that the more land pieces there are, the less likely they are to want to preserve and develop the indigenous method of rainwater harvesting. If a fig grower has another job, the likelihood of willingness to participate in maintaining and developing the aforementioned method decreases.

Variables such as permanent residence in the region, the index of removing obstacles to the development of rainwater harvesting native methods, perceived benefits of the mentioned method, the amount paid for the maintenance and development of the native method, price information of agricultural products, the amount familiarity with the artificial feeding of the underground table, the amount familiarity with the water requirements of agricultural products and having agricultural insurance are significant at the 1% level and have a positive sign. In other words, the increase in the level of these variables increases the probability that fig growers will be at higher levels of willingness to participate in the maintenance and development of rainwater harvesting methods. For example, if fig growers are permanent residents of the study area, the likelihood of their willingness to participate in the preservation and development of this method increases. The variables of using banking facilities in the field of agriculture, product selling price, and land size are significant at the 5% level and have a positive sign.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Based on the results of the estimation pattern, and the significance and sign of the descriptive variables, the following recommendations are proposed to increase participation in the maintenance and development of rainwater harvesting native methods. Given that the land size variable is significant at the 5% level and has a positive sign, in other words, as the land size increases, the likelihood of willingness to participate in the preservation and development of the aforementioned method increases, it is suggested that farmers form cooperatives, integrate small plots of land as a group, and continue their activities on an extensive basis in the form of an agricultural industry. The variable of the product selling price is also significant at a 5% level and has a positive sign, indicating that as the price of the fig product increases, also increases the probability of willingness of fig growers to participate in the maintenance and development of the native method. Therefore, it is recommended to create a platform for improving the value chain and fig supply in the Estahban region, thereby increasing the share of fig producers. The variable of the amount paid for the maintenance and development of the rainwater harvesting method is significant at a 1% level and has a positive sign. Therefore, it is suggested to establish a fund supervised by fig growers, and an annual amount of money is taken from the figs as a contribution to the development and maintenance of the native method and is deposited in the fund account, and when necessary, it should be available to fig growers for maintenance and development of the method.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Sh.M. and I.S. and S.Y. and H.R.; methodology, Sh.M. and I.S. and S.Y. and H.R. ; software, Sh.M. and H.R.; validation, Sh.M. and and H.R. ; formal analysis, Sh.M. and H.R. ; investigation, Sh.M. and H.R.; resources, Sh.M. and H.R. ; data curation, Sh.M. ; writing—original draft preparation, Sh.M. ; writing—review and editing, Sh.M. and I.S. ; visualization, Sh.M. and I.S. and S.Y. and H.R. ; supervision, I.S. and S.Y. and H.R. ; project administration, I.S. ; funding acquisition, Sh.M.

Data Availability Statement

 In order to achieve the objectives of this study, first a questionnaire were developed based on previous studies and the opinions of university professors and experts and the initial questionnaire was completed in the region. In the next step, the questionnaire was revised based on the opinions of experts and fig growers in the region and in consultation with the professors. Finally, by completing the revised questionnaire, the required data and information were collected.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants of the present study. We also would like to thank the experts from the Fars Regional Water Department, the Agricultural Jihad Department of Zarrin Dasht County, the Meteorological Department of Fars Province and the Meteorological Department of Estahban County for collecting data and information, as well as providing expert advice.

Ethical considerations

The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.