Introduction

In Rural areas where livelihoods are highly dependent on agriculture (Aghayari Heir & Valaei, 2021: 2), water is one of the most vital resources for achieving balanced and sustainable development (Wang et al., 2024b: 1). However, climate change, population growth, and inefficient water governance have placed multiple economic pressures on rural communities (IPCC, 2022). Shifts in climatic patterns and the declining efficiency of agriculture have reduced farmers’ income and food security, thereby threatening socio-economic stability (Trail & Ward, 2024: 1). Water management strategies such as modern irrigation technologies, optimized allocation, infrastructure improvement, and farmer training have been promoted as key responses to these crises (Molden et al., 2018; GWP, 2019). Yet, poor adaptation to local conditions, weak implementation, limited community participation, and financial barriers continue to undermine sustainable development (Meinzen-Dick, 2017; Shah, 2019). In Iran, with its fragile arid climate and limited share of global freshwater resources, the challenge is especially acute. Over 90% of surface water and 58% of groundwater are consumed by agriculture (Sepahvand et al., 2023: 177). In Chaharborj County, where agriculture remains the backbone of local livelihoods, recurrent droughts, groundwater depletion, and excessive withdrawals have led to serious challenges. Mismanagement of water releases, inappropriate scheduling, and overuse by upstream farmers have restricted downstream access, increased costs, triggered social conflicts, and discouraged agricultural activity. As a result, strategic crop yields have declined, out-migration has accelerated, and unemployment and economic stagnation have spread in peri-urban areas. Addressing these challenges requires the identification and implementation of effective, locally grounded water management policies.

Methodology

This study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. It is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. Data collection involved both library research and fieldwork. The study area covers peri-urban settlements of Chaharborj County. In the qualitative phase, 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted with local officials, water and agricultural experts, village heads, council members, and traditional water managers (mirabs) to identify key water management policies and their impacts. In the quantitative phase, 172 active farmers were randomly selected using Cochran’s formula to analyze household-level economic crises. Data were examined through grounded theory, one-sample t-test, and the SAW technique.

Results and discussion

In Chaharborj County, qualitative analysis using grounded theory revealed that consecutive droughts, water scarcity, declining precipitation, and deterioration of traditional water transfer networks—particularly ditches and canals—exacerbate economic crises in peri-urban areas. Twelve key and actionable agricultural water management policies were identified: integrating traditional and smart irrigation methods, implementing a water pipeline project from the Zarrineh River, completing concrete canals, farmer training, adjusting cropping patterns toward resilient crops, strengthening the role of mirabs and local managers, enhancing the participation of councils and village leaders, periodic dredging of canals and ditches, allocating water based on land size and traditional rights, installing smart irrigation systems, replacing diesel pumps with electric ones, and providing governmental financial support. These policies target seven major economic crises and, if effectively implemented, are expected to reduce migration (mean = 4.25), increase household production and income (mean = 3.62), enhance employment and job security (mean = 3.21), alleviate household poverty (mean = 3.42), strengthen food security (mean = 3.35), and promote infrastructure investment (mean = 3.32). The village of Khazineh Anbar-e Ghadim recorded the highest overall impact score (0.212), indicating maximum benefit from policy implementation. These findings are consistent with prior research by Bolandi et al. (2024), Towlabinejad et al. (2022), Najaflou et al. (2019), Marques et al. (2022), Chen et al. (2025), Imani et al. (2025), Konstadinos et al. (2025), and others.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that economic crises in the peri-urban areas of Chaharborj County stem from the interplay of multiple causal and contextual factors, including recurrent droughts, water scarcity, depletion of surface and groundwater resources—such as the drying of Lake Urmia and local rivers—deterioration of water transfer infrastructure, reliance on traditional canals, and weak local governance. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses identified twelve key water management policies: integrating traditional and modern irrigation methods, completing concrete canal projects, implementing the agricultural water pipeline project (highlighted as the most critical policy), adjusting cropping patterns toward salinity- and drought-resistant varieties, strengthening the role of local institutions including councils, village managers, and mirabs, and providing government financial support through subsidies and loans. Effective implementation of these policies is expected to improve resource efficiency, reduce rural-to-urban migration, increase household income and food security, alleviate poverty, and enhance the socio-economic resilience of peri-urban communities. Notably, the villages of Khazineh Anbar Ghadim and Qepchaq were identified as benefiting most from these water management policies in mitigating economic crises.

Key words: Agricultural water management; rural economic crises; Chaharborj County.