B.R. Nahata Smriti Sansthan Agricultural Extension Journal (AEXTJ)

Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Exploitation of Water Resources in the Desert Areas: Aqueducts (Qanats) Repairing and Reconstruction in the South Khorasan Province, East of Iran

Farhood Golmohammadi — 2023-06-15

The central plateau of Iran is located in the desert belt of the world, making dryness and water scarcity inherent characteristics of the region. Access to sustainable water sources has always been a significant challenge for the area‘s residents. However, ancient Iranians created the aqueduct, a system that respects the environment and is compatible with nature, to address this challenge. This invention gave birth to a brilliant civilization on the central plateau of Iran, which is sometimes referred to as the “Karizi Civilization.” Iran’s aqueducts serve as a model of sustainable development, promoting respect for nature and coexistence with the environment. The aqueducts play an essential role in the social and economic structure of dry areas, such as the central plateau of Iran. The precise engineering system of water distribution and the appropriateness of land and water ownership have prevented social tensions over the use of aqueducts, making them a factor of social unity, solidarity, and great social capital for the residents of those areas. The efficiency of the aqueduct system for more than 3000 years demonstrates the success of the sustainable development model observed in the structure and system of the aqueduct. Throughout history, the residents of the central plateau of Iran have faced water scarcity due to dryness and low rainfall. While the introduction of new technologies for underground water extraction in the second half of the 20th century has been a significant threat to the aqueduct and its system and social structure, it has also destroyed several 1000 years of Iran’s achievements in water and water management. This article investigates the different dimensions of aqueducts as a solution based on the indigenous knowledge of ancestors for sustainable use of water resources in the desert areas of Iran. The authors emphasize the restoration of the aqueducts and their role in the development of rural tourism, sustainable employment and livelihood, and reverse migration. These solutions can be implemented in South Khorasan Province and other areas facing similar water scarcity challenges.

Farmers Adaptive Capacities to Poverty-Related Diseases in Riverine Communities in Kogi State, Nigeria

S. Ekemhonye — 2023-06-15

Many of the diseases contributing to the disease burden in low-income countries are tightly linked to the debilitating conditions of poverty. At the global level, there are three primary poverty-related diseases (PRDs): acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, malaria, and tuberculosis. This study determining the farmers adaptive capacities to PRDs in Riverine communities in Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from respondents; a multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents in Kogi State. Descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression method were used to achieve objectives in the study areas. The findings reveal that the use of mosquito nets was common adaptation measure to reduce PRDs. It also shows that off-farm business and gender were positive and statistically significant at 5% and 10% level affects malaria, respectively. It was concluded that education, farming experience, off-farm income, access to credit, and sanitation of environment were the determinants of the adaptative capacities to PRDs by respondent in the study area. The study recommends that to reduce the effect of PRDs, there is need for policy makers to engage communities when taking decisions relating to their health.

Prerequisites for Solving the Problems of Water Supply for Agriculture in the Mountain and Foothill Regions of Azerbaijan

Rae Z. H. Aliev — 2023-06-15

The territory of the Azerbaijan Republic consists of 60% mountain and 40% flat flap, and 85% from produced agricultural product in the republic basically get with irrigated lands located on the flat area. The republic is characterized as a few land country, where per capita happens to not more than 0.2 ha plowed fields. The problems of the water deficit exist in the republic. At present, the republic disposes before 32.3 mlrd. m3 water resource per annum. However, at arid years, she falls before 23.16 mlrd. m3 that does not satisfy the need irrigated by flap. All this is obviously from Table 1. [1,3,4] Necessary to note that in relationship with difficulty physics-geographical conditions and anthropogenic influence, 43.28% of lands are subject to in one or another degree erosion process. Existing 1400 thou. ha irrigated areas basically cover the foothill and flat lands of Kaspiy and Kura-Araks lowlands.[