Determination of drought risk management priorities in agricultural sector of Gonbad-e-Kavous district using AHP technique

With occurrence of recent droughts in Gonbad-e-Kavous district, it is considerable to regard preventive measures (drought risk management) that can mitigate drought effects. This study follows measures of drought risk management that mitigate droughts losses in short-run and long-run and minimize the farmers’ getting shocked. After recognition and classification of measures of drought risk management, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique was applied to ranking measures. The questionnaires including binary comparison of measures were complemented by experts of executive, research and training departments in Jihad-e-Agriculture of Gonbad-e-Kavous County, regional water authority and agricultural research center of Golestan province and also few experienced farmers of Gonbad district in 2009. The AHP results from Expert Choice software showed that among farming measures, introducing species resistant to drought and salinity; among technical irrigation solutions, using the pressurized irrigation systems; in the legal group, drought insurance and allocating credits; and finally among the institutional measures, establishment of drought monitoring and prediction system in a national or regional level and training farmers are enjoyed higher priority in drought risk management. Therefore, it is necessary for regional planners and policymakers to make their decisions on the basis of the above-mentioned priorities.