Identification of behavioral components of water literacy from the perspective of institutional stakeholders and key informants in the agricultural sector: A case study of the Agricultural Jihad organization in Qarchak county, Iran

Subject Areas : Water governance

Mohammad Amotaghi ¹ , Sahar Faeghi ²

1 - Master's Student in Public Administration, Deptment of Management, Faculty of Islamic governance, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of Management, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2024-10-15 Accepted : 2024-12-29 Published : 2025-02-09

Keywords: Agricultural Jihad, Behavioral water literacy components, Farmers, Key institutional stakeholders, Qarchak county, Thematic analysis,

Abstract :

Water literacy is an emerging concept in water demand management research and a valuable tool for improving public awareness about water-related issues. It provides a framework for assessing society's knowledge, attitude, and behaviors toward water. This study aimed to redefine and identify the components of water literacy from the perspectives of institutional stakeholders and key informants within the Agricultural Jihad sector of Qarchak County. Using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 key informants selected via purposive homogeneous sampling. These participants, who were knowledgeable about farmers’ water literacy and experienced in water management practices, provided insights that were analyzed to identify key themes. The findings revealed 10 overarching categories of water literacy components: optimizing water resources in agriculture (e.g., adopting modern irrigation technologies); sustainable management of underground water resources (e.g., groundwater conservation); water storage and management (e.g., improving water storage infrastructure); utilizing low-water greenhouse cultivation technologies (e.g., adapting greenhouse cultivation types); equitable access to water resources (e.g., fair water distribution); enhancing local participation (e.g., involving local communities in water management); sustainable utilization of water resources (e.g., recycling and reducing waste); conserving freshwater resources (e.g., minimizing freshwater consumption in agricultural practices); prioritizing wastewater treatment for reuse (e.g., emphasizing water recycling); and reducing water pollution (e.g., decreasing chemical pesticide use). The results indicate that by applying these dimensions and components of behavioral water literacy, tailored to the capabilities, technologies, infrastructures, and resources available in Qarchak County's agricultural sector, it is possible to effectively modify and improve farmers' practices and actions.

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