Consequences Appraisal of Irrigation Networks Development Based on Farmer's Viewpoint in Downstream of Doroodzan Dam, Fars

Construction and development of irrigation and drainage networks in downstream of dams is a very important infrastructural project and its execution could enhance water use efficiency in agricultural activities, especially in water scarcity and drought condition. But, we cannot neglect their unwanted social and environmental side effects. Even, some social and environmental disadvantages of such projects are more than their advantages and may lead to social dissatisfaction. Regarding current drought, water scarcity, and low surface water use efficiency in Korbal plain of Doroodzan dam downstream in Fars province, Regional Water Organization has tried to develop irrigation and drainage networks. Whereas, impact assessment of every project which is executed in natural context in order to enhance its benefits and diminish its disadvantages is quite necessary, investigating farmers appraisal towards irrigation networks development project in downstream of Doroodzan dam was the main objective of this research.
This study was a descriptive-analytical, non-experimental and applied research and survey technique was used to collect data. Statistical population was all those farmers whom have been covered by the project (1029 farmers). Based on two stages random sampling method, 269 beneficiaries were selected as sample group. In first stage four dikes (Amir, Feysabad, Tilakan and Mavan) were considered. Then in second stage, phase of the project (social and participation study phase, execution phase and construction phase) for each dike were considered. After that, all villages classified towards those characteristics and finally sample farmers selected from each phase and each dike, randomly. Questionnaire was data collection instrument and its face validity was confirmed by a panel of relevant experts and a pilot study was done to determine its reliability. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.54-0.91
Findings: According to findings, most of beneficiaries appraised environmental, social and economic impacts of modern irrigation and drainage networks in mediate and desirable level. Besides, findings revealed that some moderate variables of the research had significant effect on the project impact assessment. Based on the causal model which proposed in this study, four attitudinal variables have had direct and indirect effect on the dependent variable. The results of path analysis showed that among those four attitudinal variables, farmers, attitude toward construction of irrigation canals, attitude toward the future of agricultural activities, and their attitude toward the water price had the most direct causal effect on the project impact assessment as dependent variable, respectively. Social participation had the greatest direct influence on dependent variable among the other variables.
According to path analyses results, it can be concluded those beneficiaries who had more social participation, more contribution in local decision- making, more crop under cultivation, had more positive attitude towards canals construction, and had more positive attitude towards future of agricultural activities and water current price, and those who were elder, have evaluated the project impacts more positively.