Analysis of the Driving and Deterrent Factors of Water Users’ Associations in Irrigation Networks of Khuzestan Province

This quantitative research was carried out with the aim of identifying the driving and deterrent factors in the formation, activity, and development of Khuzestan Province's water users’ associations of irrigation networks. The research method was survey and descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of this study consisted of all experts of the exploitation companies of Khuzestan Province Water and Electricity Organization (N = 200), 130 of them (n = 130) were selected by stratified random sampling. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed by agricultural extension and training specialists of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan and the use of Cronbach Alpha test. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software. The results of factor analysis indicated that the driving factors of water organizations were in 5 groups of production, social capital, legal, economic and executive, which in general explain 68.6% of the total variance. The results of factor analysis indicate that the driving factors of water users’ associations included 5 groups of production, social capital, legal, economic, and executive factors, which, in general, explain 68.64% of the total variance. In the factor analysis, the deterrents of water users' associations were identified as 5 groups including supportive, legal, managerial, extra-organizational and extension factors, which explain 47.29% of the total variance. According to the findings, the share of the promoters and driving factors in the activities and development of water users’ associations in Khuzestan Province is more than the deterrent factors.