تحلیل انتقادی و سیاست‌محور مثمریت سیستم‌های آبیاری تحت فشار در مواجه با بحران کم‌آبی

Abstract

Abstract:
In the context of growing water scarcity and the worsening impacts of climate change, water resource management has become a top priority for the agricultural sector in developing countries, particularly Afghanistan. Low-volume irrigation systems refer to a range of water conveyance and distribution technologies that, by using controlled pressure and precisely applying water within the plant root zone, reduce losses from evaporation, surface runoff, and deep percolation. As a result, they significantly improve water use efficiency. The most common types of these systems are drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, which in recent years have been widely promoted worldwide as effective strategies for adapting to water stress. This study uses a documentary analysis method and a systematic review of reputable international scientific literature, including articles published in journals such as Agricultural Water Management and Irrigation Science, to assess how efficiently pressurized irrigation systems can reduce water consumption, increase crop yields, and improve overall water resource management. The results show that, compared with traditional surface irrigation techniques, these systems can potentially save up to about 60% of water, while also improving the uniformity of water distribution, increasing fertilizer use efficiency, and boosting crop productivity. However, several challenges limit the widespread adoption of these technologies in low-income countries. These include the lack of effective support mechanisms, limited access to capital and credit, and insufficient technical capacity among farmers in the field of water management. In response, this study proposes a policy-oriented framework tailored to the Afghan context, built around three main pillars: (1) strengthening extension and training programs to improve farmers’ technical skills; (2) providing financial facilities and economic incentives to reduce high upfront investment costs; and (3) reforming and reinforcing governance structures related to integrated water resource management.