Prioritizing strategies to improve agricultural water productivity using multi-criteria decision-making using the analysis hierarchy method (AHP) and network analysis (ANP) in Kermanshah province (Iran)

Authors
Maryam Hafezparast Mavaddat 1
Sadi Fathi 2
1 Faculty member of Razi University
2 PhD student of water engineering, Razi University
10.22034/wmji.2025.2056931.1107
Abstract
Document, water productivity is emphasized as one of the key indicators. The groundwater balance in Kermanshah Province is negative, with accumulated deficits in groundwater reservoirs exceeding one billion cubic meters. In this context, managing water consumption in agriculture—which constitutes a significant portion of water usage in Iran and globally—can be effective and offer solutions. Clearly, one of the prerequisites for managing water consumption in agriculture is identifying the main indicators of water management and determining these indicators using appropriate methods. Making informed decisions to address the pressure on the province's water resources requires recognizing potential solutions, prioritizing them, and adopting appropriate policies to resolve the issue. In this study, the relevant criteria and options for achieving the goal of improving agricultural water productivity were first identified. Subsequently, they were compared, weighted, and prioritized using multi-criteria decision-making methods, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Analytic Network Process (ANP), within the Super Decisions software environment. The results showed that the prioritization differed between the AHP and ANP methods. In the AHP method, the options of volumetric water delivery, farmer training, and reduction of agricultural product waste received the highest weights, respectively. In contrast, in the ANP method, the options of farmer training, realistic pricing of agricultural products, and volumetric water delivery ranked first to third, respectively.
Keywords
Agricultural Water Productivity
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)
Analytic Network Process (ANP)
Multi-Criteria Decision Making
  • Agricultural Water Productivity Enhancement Plan for Kermanshah Province. 2018. Kermanshah Agricultural Jihad Organization. (In Persian)
  • Baboli, N., Ghamarnia, H., and Hafezparast Mavaddat, M. 2024. Estimating wheat evapotranspiration through remote sensing utilizing GeeSEBAL and comparing with lysimetric data. Applied Water Science 14(193).
  • Asadi, H., Mahmoudi, M., Zare, Sh. 2022. Determination of profitability and economic productivity of agricultural water in the production of crops. Iranian Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 6)15): 1411-1404. (In Persian)
  • Banihabib, M. E., and Shabestari, M. H. 2017. Decision models for the ranking of agricultural water demand management strategies in an arid region. Irrigation and Drainage, 66 (5): 773-783.
  • Cetin, O., and Kara, A. 2019. Assessment of water productivity using different drip irrigation systems for cotton. Agricultural Water Management, 223: 105693.
  • Chung, S. H., Lee, A. H. L., and Pearn, W. L. 2005. Analytic network process (ANP) approach for product mix planning in semiconductor fabricator. International Journal of Production Economics. 96(5): 15-36.
  • El-Wahed, M.A., Sabagh, A.E., Saneoka, H., Abdelkhalek, A., and Barutçular, C. 2015. Sprinkler irrigation uniformity and crop water productivity of barley in arid region. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 27(10): 770-775.
  • Esmaeili Khoshmardan, A., and Akbari Afrouzi, R. 2017. Investigation of water productivity and management pathology in the agricultural sector of the country. Office of Research and Production Sector Policies, Economic Affairs Deputy of the President's Office, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, Islamic Republic of Iran. (In Persian)
  • Fan, Y., Wang, C., and Nan, Z. 2014. Comparative evaluation of crop water use efficiency, economic analysis and net household profit simulation in arid Northwest China. Agricultural Water Management, 146: 335-345.
  • Garcia-Melon, M., Javier F., Jeronimo, A.B., Pablo, A.B., and Rocio, P. 2008. Farmland appraisal based on the analytic network Process, Journal of Global Optimization. 42(11), 143-155.
  • González-Prida, V., Barberá, L., Viveros, P., and Crespo, A. 2012. 'Dynamic Analytic Hierarchy Process: AHP method adapted to a changing environment', Proceedings of the 2nd IFAC Workshop on Advanced Maintenance Engineering, Services and Technology, Sevilla, Spain, 22-23 November. Sevilla: Universidad de Sevilla.
  • Hasanvand Atashgah, M., Yasi, M., Amiri Takeldani, A. 2019. Decision-making model for identifying and prioritizing effective criteria in inter-basin water transfer projects based on ANP and AHP methods. Iranian Water Resources Research Journal, 15(1): 313-299. (In Persian)
  • Hosini, Y. 2020. Evaluation of land suitability for irrigation using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Iran Agricultural Research, 39(1): 77-86. (In Persian)
  • Hafezparast, M., Araghinejad, S., and Filatova, T. 2015. 'Comparing the subjective and the objective criteria weighting in agricultural water resources management', Hydrology, 3(4): 38-46.
  • https://www.superdecisions.com
  • Inanolu Taife Yeamorlu, M., Nazari, B., and Setudeh-Nia, A. 2022. A comparative study of factors affecting agricultural water utilization among innovative and non-innovative farmers in Qazvin Province. Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research, 52(5): (In Persian)
  • Jalini, M., Abbasi, F., Karimi, M. 2023. Determination of applied water, yield, and water productivity in tomato farms of Razavi Khorasan Province. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Research, 23(89): 82-70. (In Persian)
  • Joozi, M. 2023. Determination of water requirements and water productivity of major crops (wheat, canola, sugar beet, and potatoes) in different climates of Kermanshah Province. Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. (In Persian)
  • Karrou, M., Oweis, T., Enein, R.A.E., and Sherif, M. 2012. Yield and water productivity of maize and wheat under deficit and raised bed irrigation practices in Egypt. African Journal of Agricultural Research 7(11):1755-1760.
  • National Adaptation Plan to Water Scarcity in Iran. 2018. Plan and Budget Organization of the Country. (In Persian)
  • National Knowledge-Based Document on Food Security. 2023. Secretariat of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. (In Persian)
  • Nayebi, J., Shantia, H., Hajirad, I. and Pourgholam-Amiji, M. 2024. Application of The Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP) in identifying the best irrigation method (case study: Hokmabad lands of Tabriz City). Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage, 17(6): 1215-1230. (In Persian)
  • Nisi, L., Albaji, M., Boroomandnasab, S. 2019. Evaluation of the best irrigation system using hierarchical analysis (Case study: Izeh Plain). Iranian Water Research Journal, 13(4): 35-17. (In Persian)
  • Panahi, E., Bafkar, A., Hafezparast, M. 2017. 'Assessment of management alternatives for maintaining watershed sustainability in the climate scenarios', Iran-Water Resources Research, 13(1): 139-152.
  • Saaty, T.L. 1970. The Analytic Network Process. Pittsburgh: RWS Publications.
  • Saaty, T.L. 1980. The Analytic Hierarchy Process: Planning Priority Setting. Resource Allocation. Pittsburgh: RWS Publications.
  • Sánchez-Garrido, A. J., Navarro, I. J., García, J., & Yepes, V. 2022. An Adaptive and & Electre IS-Based MCDM Model Using Quantitative Variables. Mathematics, 10(12): 2009.
  • Studies of the National Land Use Document. 2020. Center for Development and Future Studies, Land Use Research Group, Development and Regional Balance. (In Persian)
  • Tabatabaei, M., Zeynali, M.J., Hemraz, B. 2020. Prioritization of Strategic Policies for Acquiring Rights to Iran’s Transboundary Rivers Using AHP and ANP Methods. Iranian Water Research Journal, 14(4): 51-39. (In Persian)
  • Veisi, H., Deihimfard, R., Shahmohammadi, A., and Hydarzadeh, Y. 2022.'Application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in a multi-criteria selection of agricultural irrigation systems', Agricultural Water Management, 267, 107612. 
  • Zamani, A., Abbasi, HR., Alipour, V., Peyravi, MR., Shojaei, P., Goli, A., and Mohammadinia, L. 2022. Alternative Water Resources Selection to Supply Drinking Water in Flood Disasters by Multicriteria Decision-Making Techniques (DANP and VIKOR). Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2022, Article ID 5445786, P: 12.