Developing Scenarios for the Reallocation of Water Resources in the Agriculture Sector in the Karun-e-Bozorg basin; Application of Water-Food-Energy Nexus

Khuzestan province, with its abundant flowing water and fertile lands, is the largest producer of food in the country and plays a decisive role in the country’s food security. However, over the last two decades, the water resources situation in this province has undergone fundamental changes in terms of quantity and quality, similar to other regions of the country. This research aims to present different scenarios for the reallocation of agricultural water resources in relation to the water-food-energy nexus in the Karun-e-Bozorg basin. This applied research uses a mixed methods approach based on the Cross-Impact Balance analysis methodology. The participants in this study included experts in the fields of water, food, and energy, who were selected using a purposeful sampling method. Primary driving forces were identified using expert opinion and a systematic review of authoritative sources. Interaction judgment matrices were designed based on the identified driver forces. After completing and weighing the matrices by a panel of respondents, data was analyzed using MIC-MAC and Scenario Wizard software. In this research, six driving forces were identified as key factors in the reallocation of agricultural water resources based on the water-food-energy nexus in the Karun-e-Bozorg basin. Finally, while presenting three main scenarios, suggestions have been presented for improving the reallocation system of water resources between water, food, and energy sectors in the study area.