*3.2. Investigating the Factors Affecting the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Water Resources for the Optimal Use of Water in the Agricultural Sector*

The results of Table 3, which were obtained from the pairwise comparison matrix of the studied indicators, show the factors affecting the sustainable management of agricultural water resources in the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector. Acceptors of water resources management, the type of exploitation system, farmers' income, and the level of mechanization (criteria 4, 9, 12, 13, and 14) were preferable to other criteria.

According to the results related to the pairwise comparison of visit program indicators for farmers regarding indigenous knowledge, the prevalence of training classes on the use of indigenous knowledge, practical projects on indigenous knowledge projects, the use of publications, written training packages (film, books, tapes, etc.), specialized seminars on promotional projects for the development of indigenous knowledge, and the use the internet and e-learning, which are related to the educational-promotional factor, show that the socio-cultural factor has a relative superiority over other indicators.

According to the results of a pairwise comparison of belief options towards indigenous knowledge, farmers' interest in using indigenous knowledge, communication with neighbors regarding the use of indigenous knowledge, interest in membership in social groups (baneh) and membership in the water organizations branch were related to the socio-cultural factor. The managerial factor is superior over other criteria.

The results of pairwise comparison of criteria related to the managerial factor—providing specialized manpower for indigenous knowledge projects, organizing financial mechanisms of officials regarding indigenous knowledge, the attitudes of managers towards indigenous knowledge projects, the practical participation of officials and managers in indigenous knowledge promotion projects, transferring powers and decisions to farmers, bottom-up decision-making—show that the economic factor is relatively superior over other factors.

The results of a pairwise comparison of options related to the economic factor—farmers' income, insurance for agricultural products at risk of drought, drought grants, the extension of drought loan repayment, drought loans, bank facilities for the purchase of pump motors and machines, show that the socio-cultural factor is relatively superior.

According to the opinions of experts in the Sistan region, indicators have been identified to investigate the factors affecting indigenous knowledge in the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector and have been fitted using the analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) model. Considering that the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting indigenous knowledge in the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector, prioritization has been conducted and, as can be seen in Figure 2, the educational-extension factor, with a final weight of 0.46, has had the greatest impact on indigenous knowledge in the optimal use of agricultural water, followed by socio-cultural (0.33), managerial (0.15), and economic (0.06) factors.

According to the results obtained from a pairwise comparison of educational-promotional factors—the use of publications, the use of radio and television, holding classes and training courses, the distribution of magazines and educational publications, the use of training workshops, and communication with relevant specialists (agricultural promoters) the factor (option) of farmers' knowledge and information was superior. A pairwise comparison of the criteria for government support—the delivery of subsidized inputs to the recipients of water resources management and the material and spiritual incentives of the recipients of water resources—showed that the knowledge and information of farmers was superior over other factors.

*Sustainability* **2023**, *15*, 5665


**Table 3.** Paired comparison matrix of indicators for determining the factors affecting the sustainable management of agricultural water resources in the optimal use waterintheagriculturalsectorofSistan.

**Figure 2.** Weight of options based on indicators of factors affecting indigenous knowledge in optimal water consumption in agriculture.

The results of pairwise comparison of economic factors—the level of farmers' crop cultivation, the type of exploitation system, farmers' income, and the level of mechanization showed that farmers' knowledge and information is superior to other options. Parallel comparison of options according to the criteria of farmers' technical knowledge of the stages up to harvest and their level of education, which are related to the factor of knowledge and information of farmers, showed that all education-extension, social, and government support factors are equally superior.

Scientific research is set up to discover the truth, find solutions to challenges, and improve human lives. Communication with neighboring countries and the use of their knowledge contributes to the optimal use of water in agriculture, and, by joining a aquifer organization, this creates the ground for correct and optimal consumption, as well as increasing farmers' incomes and the loans given to farmers during droughts. The above can be one of the most important factors affecting the indigenous knowledge of the region.

The results of evaluating the factors affecting the sustainable management of agricultural water resources in the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector showed that the distribution of educational magazines and publications, the delivery of subsidized inputs to recipients of water resources management, the type of exploitation system, farmers' income, and the level of mechanization were the preferred criteria. The results of this research confirm those of Shahbakhsh et al. [1], Abbasian et al. [2], and Farrokhzadeh et al. [3]. The existence of promotional activities, such as the distribution of magazines and publications, increases farmers' awareness of the sustainability of water resources, and authorities create incentive amongst designers to promote the sustainability and optimal use of water resources. Based on the factors affecting the sustainable management of agricultural water resources in the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector, the educational-extension factor, with a final weight of 0.37 is defined here as the first priority (Figure 3). The reason for the superiority of the criteria was due to the use of publications, the use of radio and television, holding classes and training courses, distributing educational-promotional magazines and publications, using training workshops, and communicating with specialists (agricultural promoters). Meanwhile, social factors, government, economic support, and

farmers' knowledge and information, with final weights of 0.24, 0.21, 0.13, and 0.03, are the next priorities.

**Figure 3.** Final weight of options based on the indicators of factors affecting the sustainable management of agricultural water resources in the optimal use of water in agriculture.

#### **4. Conclusions**

Water shortage is one of the main limiting factors for the development of economic activities in the coming years. Iran is located in one of the driest regions in the world. Increasing population and the limitations of water resources make the targeted management of water resources even more necessary. Therefore, maintaining water resources and applying proper management in the exploitation of the above resources, especially in the agricultural sector, is of particular importance. The reason for this is that the production of agricultural products is intended to meet food needs, and in the future, due to population growth on the one hand and restrictions on arable land to limit water on the other hand, meeting the country's food needs will be a major problem.

Indigenous knowledge, which includes local beliefs, values and awareness, and their social knowledge, is a part of the national capital of any ethnic group and is of particular importance in the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector. In the present study, fuzzy hierarchical analysis (FAHP) was applied separately to the factors affecting local knowledge and sustainable management of agricultural water resources for the optimal use of water in the agricultural sector. The criteria and study options were grouped according to previous studies and using the opinions of experts, and the relationship between them was examined. The results of evaluation of factors affecting indigenous knowledge in optimal water consumption in agriculture indicated that, among the indicators used, indices of relations with neighbors regarding the use of indigenous knowledge, membership in water collectors, farmers' incomes and drought loans, were superior to other indicators.

Based on results of this research, the following suggestions are presented:


**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, A.S.S. and O.B.; methodology, O.B., H.E.A.; Validation, T.P., H.E.A.; formal analysis, A.S.S., data curation, A.S.S.; writing—original draft preparation, A.S.S.; writing—review and editing, supervision, O.B. and T.P.; funding acquisition, T.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** Foundation for Science and Technology–Portugal grant: UIDB/04007/2020.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

**Data Availability Statement:** Data is available on demand.

**Acknowledgments:** The study was supported by a grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology–Portugal (UIDB/04007/2020).

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.

#### **References**


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