Evaluating the Elements Influencing the Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Agriculture

Abstract

Currently, the qualitative and quantitative decline in water resources presents a global challenge. In Rajasthan, this issue has led to numerous challenges in the agriculture sector. The primary focus of this study was to analyze the sustainable management of agricultural water resources. Employing applied research methods, including descriptive and correlational analyses, the study utilized factor analysis to identify the factors influencing sustainable water resource management in agriculture. The statistical sample comprised 1296 farmers in the region, with a subset of 144 selected through simple random sampling. Data collection involved questionnaire surveys conducted in 12 villages. The questionnaire's validity was assessed using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient (85%). Findings revealed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) between sustainable water resource management and factors such as on-farm demonstration visits, social participation, utilization of communication channels, participation in training programs, income levels, mechanization levels, consultations with fellow wheat farmers, and interactions with agricultural promoters. Additionally, factor analysis was employed to identify key factors affecting sustainable water resource management. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test confirmed the suitability of the data for factor analysis. Results indicated that five factors—economic characteristics, educational and promotional activities, social engagement, knowledge and information dissemination, and governmental support—explained approximately 75% of the variance in sustainable water resource management. This suggests that prioritizing these factors in planning initiatives could significantly enhance the technical knowledge of wheat farmers in Kashan township regarding sustainable agriculture practices.