چکیده:
بدون تردید نخستین گام در مسیر دستیابی به توسعه پایدار به ویژه در بخش کشاورزی شناخت توان محیطی و پتانسیل اراضی هر منطقه خواهد بود. به بیان دیگر توسعه پایدار زمانی محقق خواهد شد که از سرزمین به تناسب قابلیتها و توانمندیهای آن استفاده شود. در حال حاضر برنامهریزان برای رسیدن به این مقصود از روشها و تکنیکهای مختلف استفاده میکنند. لذا با توجه به اهمیت استفاده بهینه از پتانسیل اراضی، مطالعه حاضر با هدف ارزیابی و رتبهبندی دهستانهای مستعد توسعه کشاورزی در شهرستان کرمانشاه انجام شد. در مرحله نخست با استفاده از نظر متخصصان و مطالعات اسنادی، معیارهای موثر در انتخاب مناطق مستعد توسعه کشاورزیدر شهرستان کرمانشاه شناسایی شدند. در ادامه از تکینک تحلیل سلسله مراتبی(AHP) و نرم افزار(EC) برای رتبهبندی معیارهای شناسایی شده بهرهگرفته شد. در گام بعدی با استفاده از سیستم اطلاعات جغرافیایی(GIS) سیزده دهستان شهرستان کرمانشاه از نظر پتانسیل کشاورزی به 5 طبقه کاملا مساعد، مساعد، نسبتا مساعد، نسبتا نامساعد و نامساعد تفکیک شدند. نتایج مطالعه نشان داد به ترتیب معیارهایی نظیر منابع آبی، وضعیت خاک منطقه، شرایط اقلیمی و نیز کاربری اراضی در ارزیابی و رتبهبندی مناطق مستعد کشاورزی در شهرستان کرمانشاه تاثیرگذارند. همچنین طبقهبندی سیزده دهستان شهرستان کرمانشاه بر مبنای پتانسیل اراضی کشاورزی نشان داد، دهستان میاندربند به دلیل وجود منابع آبی مکفی، اقلیم مناسب، وضعیت خاک مطلوب و نیز نوع کاربری اراضی در منطقه کاملا مساعد قرار دارد. نتایج این مطالعه میتواند توصیههایی برای برنامهریزان بخش کشاورزی استان کرمانشاه داشته باشد. بدین صورت که برنامهریزان میتوانند با انتخاب منطقه میاندربند علاوهبر استفاده بهینه از منابع طبیعی و پیاده کردن سیاستهای مناسب کشت به تولید بیشتر دست یابند.
Introduction
The importance of environmental capabilities has made rural practitioners to study the
potentials of each and every location. Some researchers have come to believe that agriculture
is the main player in rural development (Koutsouris, 2000). Therefore, identifying appropriate agricultural lands using scientific methods such feasibility study can enhance effective land use policy and thus improve environmental resources. In other words, efficient
use of agricultural lands depends on identifying farm lands that are most suitable for
cultivation. Recently, Kermanshah Township with rich water resources and highly fertile soil
has attracted rural development practitioners. Since agricultural site selection has a major role in agricultural development, the main purpose of this investigation was to conduct a location
study in order to identify the most appropriate location for agricultural activities in
Kermanshah Township.
Methodology
Generally, location studies require that researchers search for criteria that influences
agricultural potentials. Therefore, using agricultural experts as well as library search, these
criteria were identified. Knowing the weight of each index is important for rural development practitioners. Therefore, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were used to weigh each criteria
perceived as important by experts and review of literature. Expert Choice (EC) software was
used to analyze AHP data. Finally, Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to
explain characteristics of selected sites.
Results
Agricultural experts as well as review of literature revealed that four criteria are important in
assessing potential sites for agricultural activities in Kermanshah Township. Namely, climate,
water resources, soil condition, and land use. These criteria were prioritized on the basis of
their importance in site selection studies using AHP. The ranking of these criteria revealed
that water resources ranked highest (0.539) whereas land use (0.042) ranked lowest in terms
of site selection. Other criteria such as soil condition (0.316) and climate (0.103) ranked
second and third. Pair-wise comparison for water resource criteria indicated that surface water (0.885) perceived as most important compared to underground water (0.115) when
selecting agricultural sites. Moreover, sub-criteria under water resources showed that well (0.759) was perceived more valuable than spring (0.068) and khanat water (0.173). Soil
Geography and Environmental planning, 27th year, vol. 61, No. 1, April 2016
condition was another criteria mentioned by experts and derived through literature review.
Pair-wise comparison for soil condition sub-criteria indicated that water plains (0.469) were
more suitable than flat plains (0.04) for agricultural productions. Climate was also identified
as one of the major potential for considering agricultural location for farm activities. Pair-
wise comparison across sub-criteria for climate revealed that precipitation (0.884) ranked
higher than temperature (0.116). Precipitation had its sub-criteria so that 800-900 mm (0.457)
rain was most preferred in compare to lower rates. In addition, temperature at 10-12.5°C
(0.575) was more preferred than temperatures of 15-17.5°C (0.062). Land use was also
considered as an important factor in selecting agricultural lands for farming practices. The
pair-wise comparison for sub-criteria revealed that irrigated lands (0.614) were more important than range lands (0.046). Finally, GIS analysis categorized 13 site specific
locations as: 1) completely suitable, 2) suitable, 3) somewhat suitable, 4) somewhat
unsuitable, 5) completely unsuitable. Miandarband region was identified as completely suitable. Mahidasht region was identified as suitable location for agricultural productions.
Sarfirouzabad, Gharasoo, Doroodfaraman, Baladarband, Jaghanarges, and Sanjabi were
considered as somewhat suitable for farming activities. Razavar and Haftashian were
considered as somewhat unsuitable. Finally, Poshtdarband, Jalalvand, and Osmanvand were
identified as unsuitable for agricultural productions.
Conclusion, discussion, and recommendations
This study shed light on potential of Kermanshah Township in term of agricultural
production. Results clearly indicated that Miandarband has a major potential in compare to
other regions for agricultural activities. This location was further verified using focus group discussion among agricultural experts in Kermanshah Township. The result of this study may have implications for rural development practitioners in Kermanshah Province. For example,
knowing site specific locations for more effective production can help agricultural policy-
makers design a site specific crop pattern for the region. This in turn would make better use
of land potential and thus enhance agricultural production in the area.