A Look at the Performance of Irrigation and Drainage Network of Varamin Plain Based on SWOT Model

The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying the weaknesses, strengths, threats, and opportunities in the operation of the Dasht Varamin Network from the viewpoint of users, experts, and managers of the network. The research tool was a questionnaire whose validity was improved by completing 30 prototypes and checking reliability under the supervision of university professors, managers, and experts in this field. Data was collected by single-stage, random, and field survey. The statistical population included the network operators, experts, and active managers. The statistical sample size was 98 through the Cochrane relationship and 105 to avoid errors. The results of the SWOT analytical model showed that with increasing information and real awareness of the users about the challenges of the network, the cost of construction and maintenance, the actions of the Irrigation Department and Water Affairs, Agricultural Jihad, and other related organizations, will encourage the users to stop confronting and having a negative attitude. Thus, they would probably have a more responsible and concerned participation and would take more effective steps in order to remove the threat, eliminate the weakness, enhance the strength, and use the opportunities. The comparative examination of the opinions of experts such as users determined opportunities more than threats, weaknesses and strengths, this shows a shared view and hope for the existing opportunities of the network. From the respondents’ point of view, the priority was to determine the competitive strategies, then, the defensive ones. Knowing the problems of the users (challenge of the administrative process, inconsistency of the sectors related to water, negative view of the government measures by considering the previous unsuccessful experiences) experts can eliminate the weaknesses and threats in order to facilitate the affairs for the water users. Activities such as promoting new methods of irrigation and agriculture and showing the successful experiences of cooperative management of water users in the network, should have pioneering and practical results.