The Impact of Agricultural Water Pricing on Sustainability of its Resources: A Case Study of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province

Most of the water consumption is in agricultural and irrigation uses, which accounts for about 70% of the world's total fresh water, and water resources are scarce worldwide due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change. In the present study, the potential effects of water pricing on efficiency, equity and fairness and sustainability of irrigation water use were investigated. Required data were collected through questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with farmers in different areas where farmers pay for irrigation costs in the area. Part of the data was also obtained from landowners and buyers of water using electric or diesel pumps. The data were analyzed using Eviews and DEAP2 statistical software. Regarding the results for each production unit, the fully efficient units formed a small proportion and added most water units to various types. They consume. The results show a negative relationship between the technical efficiency with the excess water consumed due to the inefficiency of input use. The results of the Sustainability Index showed that if farmers and ranchers were more efficient in using water and consuming less water, the sustainability index would increase for them. The results of the VAR model show the long-run equilibrium relationship between pricing policy and agricultural output. In other words, the results show that pricing policy has increased agricultural production.