شناسایی عوامل مؤثر بر سازگاری زراعی کشاورزان در مقابله با بحران آب‌های زیرزمینی (مورد مطالعه: شهرستان دیر استان بوشهر)

Identifying factors affecting farmers' agronomic adaptation in dealing with the groundwater crisis (Case of study: Deir county, Bushehr province)

Abstract
The general aim of the current research is to identify the factors affecting farmers' adaptation to the groundwater crisis in Deir county, located in Bushehr province. This research was done by descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population of this research is 1100 irrigated farmers of Deir county. The sample size was calculated using Tuckman's table, 285 people, and to increase the accuracy of the study, 305 people were selected by proportional allocation sampling method. The research tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed based on the collective opinion of experts and faculty members and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was done using SPSS software. The results of the study showed that during the last 20 years, the critical water indicators of agricultural wells in the study area have increased three times. The findings also show that the owners of inappropriate and uneconomic wells showed the most water management behaviors and the owners of ideal wells showed the least adaptive behaviors. Based on the results of regression analysis, the variables of social economic effects of underground water crisis, the intention of farmers to migrate, the condition of agricultural wells, the quality of life of farmers and the number of family members have a significant effect on the adaptation of farmers and explain about 40% of the changes in this variable.
Key words: drought, groundwater crisis, adaptation of farmers, Deir county
Introduction
Climate change is one of the most important economic, social and environmental threats to human life and the greatest threat to sustainable development. Meanwhile, one of the most important sectors affected by climate change is water resources. Water crises will have the greatest impact on the agricultural sector. Therefore, the agricultural sector has an urgent need for farmers to adapt to the conditions of water shortage and drought. Adaptation in agricultural systems is explained as harmonizing behavior with environmental changes to overcome agricultural damages. The present research seeks to identify the conditions and factors that are effective on the type of behavior of farmers while examining the agricultural adaptation behaviors that occur by farmers in dealing with water crises in this way, it is possible to predict the behavior of farmers in the face of the groundwater crisis
Material and Methods
The current research is a survey research that was conducted in a cross-sectional way. This research was conducted in Deir county (one of the southern cities of Bushehr province). This research was done by descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population of this research is 1100 irrigated farmers of Deir county. The sample size was calculated using Tuckman's table, 285 people, and to increase the accuracy of the study, 305 people were selected by proportional allocation sampling method.
Results
Based on the results of this research, farmers who are faced with the issue of groundwater crisis will take different adaptive behaviors in different fields. These adaptation behaviors can be divided into two sets of agricultural adaptation (irrigation and agricultural adaptation) and non-agricultural adaptation (sale of capital, job change and receiving assistance). Farmers of Deir county have changed most of their irrigation methods and improved the water transfer system for better water management. Because these activities are easier and cheaper. That's why most farmers are able to do it. At the same time, changing the irrigation method and improving the water transmission system is supported by the government due to the positive environmental results, and special facilities are provided for farmers in this case.
Conclusion
In the field of water resources management, the most popular among farmers was to change the irrigation method and improve the water transfer system. Both of these activities are expensive, it is suggested that the government should provide special banking facilities for the people of the region. It is recommended to hold extension training courses according to the needs of the villagers, at the right time and with information, as well as training in agricultural techniques and optimizing water consumption and improvement. and finally, it is suggested that watershed and aquifer projects to feed the underground water table should be prioritized in the agricultural programs of the region.
Also, in terms of the social and economic effects of the underground water crisis, Abdan has received the most effects and Bardkhon has received the least effects. From the point of view of the environmental effects of the groundwater crisis, Abdan has received the most effects and Bardkhon has the least effects.
The findings of this research showed that the owners of inappropriate and uneconomic wells showed the most water management behaviors and the owners of ideal wells showed the least adaptation behaviors. If there is no significant difference between these groups in terms of agricultural management behaviors.
The results of the regression analysis also indicate that the variables of vulnerability and quality of life have played the most important role in the adaptation process of the farmers of Deir city. In addition, the six variables of social and economic effects of the groundwater crisis, the tendency of farmers to migrate, the condition of agricultural wells, the quality of life of farmers and the number of their family members were able to explain about 40% of the changes in the dependent variable of farmers' agricultural adaptation.
In the field of water resources management, the most popular among farmers was to change the irrigation method and improve the water transfer system. Both of these activities are costly. It is suggested that the government provide special banking facilities in this sector for the people of the region.
It is recommended to hold promotional training courses according to the needs of the villagers, at the right time and with information, as well as training in agricultural techniques and optimizing water consumption and improvement, and finally, watershed and aquifer projects are suggested to feed the water table. The priorities of the agricultural programs of the region should be placed underground.
Data Availability
The datasets are available from the corresponding author by email (b.khosravipour@gmail.com) on a reasonable request.
Conflicts of interest
The authors of this article declared no conflict of interest regarding the authorship or publication of this article.