Agricultural Water Conflict Management in Gawshan Basin: Solutions Based on Cooperation Strategy

Local water conflict is incompatible behavior between water stakeholders within communities over common water resource. If these conflicts are not addressed, they will have adverse consequences. Therefore, interests for managing water resources conflicts have been increased by policy-makers and planners. Gawshan basin is one of the regions has experienced agricultural water conflicts. Hence, in this qualitative research with a naturalistic view, in the first step a dynamic process for negotiating with stakeholders was implemented and then win-win solutions to manage agricultural water conflict with involving stakeholders were explained. The study population included all stakeholders of agricultural water in Gawshan dam network. In line with the nature of qualitative research, purposeful sampling was used in the study and 26 particiapants involved in the research process. The data were collected by conducting focus group discussion, conflict matrix and problem tree. Water distribution, the issue of water charges, land acquisition and maintenance of the network were the most important conflicts which were identified. The results showed that structural reform of water governance by delivering water to farmers, empowering local people in conflict resolution and negotiating, creating a win-win mechanism for conflict resolution at the local level, with the participation of farmers, holding workshops and training courses in the field of network equipment repair and maintenance were the most important solutions. The results of this research can be useful for optimizing management of agricultural water resources in the Gawshan basin.