Conceptualization and Indicators of Appropriate Irrigation Systems Technology in Rural Areas Using Grounded Theory

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22059/jwim.2024.372651.1149

Abstract

Although technology development in villages can have undeniable benefits; In some cases, we see the reduction of the effectiveness and efficiency of technology, the waste of villagers' material resources and the villagers' pessimism towards technology used in irrigation systems. The incompatibility of technology with the time and place conditions of the villages has a prominent role in the occurrence of these damages. This research aims to explain the concept and identify indicators of appropriate technology to rural environments, with special emphasis on irrigation systems in rural areas of Taft city, using the qualitative approach of Grounded Theory technique. According to the results, the appropriateness of a technology with the village environment and its effectiveness for the agricultural sector requires the inclusion of all socio-cultural, technical-economic, physical-infrastructural and environmental aspects. The results show that technology in terms of socio-cultural aspect, should be needs-oriented while being compatible with the epistemic environment of the village and based on local knowledge. It is also in terms of technical-economic aspect necessary to be scalable, cheap, simple, controllable, durable and standard. In addition, the technology should be compatible with each plant in terms of physical infrastructure and the necessary infrastructure should be provided in the village. The results also show that the technology must be environmentally friendly, consistent with the principles of sustainability and bring the least shock and stress to the agricultural unit. In the paradigm model presented in this research, "Not considering the special conditions of villages", "Not considering the real needs of villagers" and "weakness of facilities and infrastructures" are mentioned as the causal conditions for the introduction of inappropriate technology in the villages. Also, cases such as "small ownership", "monopoly and incorrect relationships", "short life of planning in the rural system", and "weakness of the extension system in introducing appropriate technology" have played an interfering role in intensifying the current situation. This model points to the fact that if strategies such as "shaping the rural technological innovation system" are used, the cycle of generation, diffusion and utilization of appropriate technology in villages can be accelerated.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Abdoli, GH. (2006). National innovation system, inventions and economic leap, Iranian Economic Research Quarterly, 9 (31), 103-126 (in Persian).
  2. Afrakhte, H. (2016). Transformation of geography as an interdisciplinary science, Interdisciplinary studies in the humanities, 8(2), 119-132. (in Persian).
  3. Ananth, P.N., & Karthikeyan, M (2014). Application of Science and Technology in Rural Areas (ASTRA): An Ethiopian Context, Journal of Food and Agriculture Science, 4, 1-12.
  4. Badakhshan, Z., Mehrabi Boshrabadi, H., & Mirzaei Khaliladadi, H.R. (2019). The study effect of infrastructures development on rural development of Iran, Agricultural Economics, 12(4), 1-14.(in Persian).
  5. Balali, M.R., Keulartz, J., & Korthals, M. (2011). Reflexive land and water management in iran: linking technology, governance and culture. part 1: land and water management paradigms, Water research in agriculture (soil and water sciences), 24(2), 73-97. (in Persian).
  6. Barbara, S. (2008). The nature of the science of geography, translated by Khadija Mehmandoost, the growth of geography education, 87, 3-12. (in Persian).
  7. Bauer, A. M., & Brown, A. (2014). Quantitative assessment of appropriate technology. Procedia Engineering, 78, 345-358. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.07.076
  8. Bjornlund, V., & Bjornlund, H. (2010). Sustainable irrigation: A historical perspective in Incentives and Instruments for Sustainable Irrigation, WIT press, Southampton, page 13-24, 978-1-84564-406-2
  9. Bowonder, B. (1979). Appropriate technology for developing countries: some issues, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 15(1), 55-67.
  10. Chambers, R. (1978). Towards rural futures: an approach through the planning of technologies, IDS Discussion Paper 134. Brighton: IDS.
  11. Feldman, M. P., & Kogler, D. F. (2010). Stylized facts in the geography of innovation. handbook of the economics of innovation, 381-410. doi:10.1016/s0169-7218(10)01008-7 
  12. Gatzweiler, F.W., & Braun, J.V. (2016). Technological and institutional innovations for marginalized smallholders in agricultural development, published with open access at SpringerLink.com.
  13. Glasscock, J. A. (2022). An overview of fifty years of appropriate technology research using bibliometric analysis, Academic Society for Appropriate Technology,  8(1), 17-26, doi.org/10.37675/jat.2022.8.1.17
  14. Golmohammadi, F. (2010). Development of handicraft industries and medium technology with the aim of expanding tourism and sustainable rural employment, Rural Housing and Environment Quarterly, 131, 73-94 (in Persian).
  15. Hossain, M. (2017). Grassroots Innovation: A systematic review of two decades of research, Journal of Cleaner Production, September 2016, pp 1-28.
  16. Khan, S., Tariq, R., Yuanlai, C., & Blackwell, J. (2006). Can irrigation be sustainable? Agricultural Water Management, 80(1-3), 87-99. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2005.07.006
  17. Lucas, John R. (1970). The Freedom of the Will, Oxford, Oxford University Press
  18. Nasiri, M. (2011). Explanation in natural sciences based on two formalist approaches, Journal of Theological Philosophical Research, 13 (3), 5-32. (in Persian).
  19. Nikolaou, G., Neocleous, D., Christou, A., Kitta, E., & Katsoulas, N. (2020). Implementing sustainable irrigation in water-scarce regions under the impact of climate change. Agronomy, 10(8), 1120. doi:10.3390/agronomy10081120
  20. P., Bamdad Soofy, J., Aerabi, S.M., & Amiri, M. (2012). A conceptual framework for competencies of CEOs engaged in technology- based firms CEOs: dimensions, factors and indies, Quarterly Journal of Career., & Organizational Counseling, 4(12), 145-161. (in Persian).
  21. Patel, , & Sachan, B. (2023). Low cost drip irrigation system: an Appropriate technology for rural women, Ecology, Environment and Conservation,  29,  31-38
  22. Patnaik, J., & Tarei, P. K. (2022). Analysing appropriateness in appropriate technology for achieving sustainability: A multi-sectorial examination in a developing economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 349, 131204. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131204.
  23. Pattnaik, B. K., & Dhal, D. (2015). Mobilizing from appropriate technologies to sustainable technologies based on grassroots innovations. Technology in Society, 40, 93-110. doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2014.09.002
  24. Permadi, L., Novita, R. (2023). The role of appropriate technology in enhancing efficiency and production In livestock and agriculture Sectors: A systematic review In Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Innovation Studies, 24, doi:10.21070/ijins.v24i.952
  25. Pin, L.A., Pennink, B.J.W., Balsters, H., & Sianipar, C.P.M. (2021). Technological appropriateness of biomass production in rural settings: Addressing water hyacinths (E. crassipes) problem in Lake Tondano, Indonesia. Technology in Society, 66, 101658. doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101658
  26. Pishwai, F., & Rezaei, M. (2012). Technology and challenges of the future, Radio and Broadcasting Islamic Research Center (Qom Province), Nashr Book Publishing Institute affiliated with Iran-Namaye Cultural, Art and Information Institute, Nationwide Public Libraries Institute, Tehran. (in Persian).
  27. Prasetyo, Y.E. (2016). Sustainable Development in rural areas: mobilizing appropriate technologies to grassroots innovation ecosystem, 7th rural research and planning group (RRPG) international conference and field study in Malaysia 2016 (RRPG7), published by UTM Razak School Kuala Lumpur. Pp 422-423
  28. Rahman, T., Yassierli, & Widyanti, A. (2023). Design guidelines for sustainable utilization of agricultural appropriate technology: Enhancing human factors and user experience. Open Agriculture, 8(1), 20220232. doi:10.1515/opag-2022-0232
  29. Saadi, H. (1998). The role of promotion in choosing and transferring appropriate technology to agricultural users, Jihad Monthly, 204 and 205, 52-57. (in Persian).
  30. Seyfang, G., & Smith, A. (2007). Grassroots innovations for sustainable development: Towards a new research and policy agenda, Environmental Politics,16(4), 584-603. August 2007.
  31. Shah Nawaz, A., & Ajay K, S. (2022). Implications of appropriate technology and farm inputs in the agricultural sector of Gujarat: Empirical analysis based on primary data, Agricultural Economics Research Review, 35(2), 59-77. doi:5958/0974-0279.2022.00031.3
  32. Shahvali, M., Ateftdust, A., & Fatemi, M. (2018). Transcendental methodology for new agricultural techology adoption, Science and Technology Policy Quarterly, 9(3), 45-58. (in Persian).
  33. Sianipar, C. P. M., Yudoko, G., Adhiutama, A., & Dowaki, K. (2013). Community empowerment through appropriate technology: sustaining the sustainable development. Procedia Environmental Science, 17, 1007-1016. org/10.1016/j.proenv.2013.02.120
  34. Smith, A., Fressoli, M., Abrol, D., Around, E., & Ely, A. (2017). Grassroots innovation movements, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge.
  35. Trak, A., & Mackenzie, M. (1980). Appropriate technology assessment: A note on policy considerations, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 17, 329-338.
  36. Velasco-Muñoz, J. F., Aznar-Sánchez, J. A., Batlles-delaFuente, A., & Fidelibus, M. D. (2019). Sustainable irrigation in agriculture: an analysis of global research. Water, 11(9), 1758. doi:10.3390/w11091758
  37. Wichelns, D., & Oster, J. D. (2006). Sustainable irrigation is necessary and achievable, but direct costs and environmental impacts can be substantial. Agricultural Water Management, 86(1-2), 114-127. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2006.07.014
Water and Irrigation Management
Volume 14, Issue 3
December 2024
Pages 753-776

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics