Evaluating Economic, Social, and Cultural Indicators in Sustainable Agricultural Systems (A Case Study of the Pilot Project for Water Supply in Sistan and Baluchestan, Hamoun 3)
Subject Areas : Journal of Plant EcophysiologyMansour Heydariyan 1 , مهدی دهمرده 2 , Mohammad Reza Asgharipour 3 , esmail seyedabadi 4 , محمود رمرودی 5
1 - University of zabol
2 - گروه کشاورزی، دانشکده کشاورزی،دانشگاه ملی زابل،ایران
3 - Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
4 - department of agronomy
5 - Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
Keywords:
Abstract :
In agricultural systems worldwide, food security and sustainability are criticaleconomic, social, and cultural considerations. Accurate assessment of irrigation projects serves as an effective tool for managing and predicting environmental impacts. Today, the challenge of water scarcity in Iran has intensified to the extent that implementing effective management policies and principles of proper productivity is imperative.This study evaluates the water transfer project from the half-wells of Sistan, emphasizing economic and ecological indicators. In this descriptive-analytical study, the economic, social and cultural indicators of sustainable agricultural systems in the Sistan region were evaluated using appropriate statistical methods. The data were collected through registered statistics and face-to-face interviews with the managers of the irrigation project. The irrigation project consisted of 16 civil units with different areas, one of which, Hamoon 3 civil unit, was selected as the case study. This civil unit had 16 sub-sections, where a pilot plan of low-pressure irrigation network was implemented. The effects of the irrigation project on the economic, social and cultural indicators were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Following project implementation, the region's population decreased by approximately 30% due to reduced production, increased migration, and shortcomings in establishing sustainable employment. The decrease in agricultural land area was less than 5%, while orchard land area increased by 15% due to improved water access. An 11% increase in the number of livestock and a 37% increase in electricity consumption indicate improved conditions for livestock farmers and socio-economic changes post-project.Moreover, agricultural and orchard product production and sales costs have increased annually due to inflation. The selling price of agricultural products faced a 30% increase, while orchard product prices experienced a substantial 230% surge. With a 20% rise in pesticide use due to drought-induced pests, post-implementation assessments show a 15% increase in monetary losses. This study reveals that the water transfer project from the half-wells of Sistan has diverse effects on the region's economic, ecological, and social aspects, necessitating solutions to address challenges and enhance outcomes.
