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Abstract
In recent years, farming section of South Khorasan Province
faces different limitations such as increasing shortage of
water resources and continuous reduction of weather showers.
Considering consecutive droughts and water crisis in agricultural
plain of the province, it is necessary to use water resources optimally
and increase productivity of water shortage input.
Comparison of water productivity among the available utilization
systems in agricultural section of the province can cause recognition
of suitable and efficient utilization system for optimal
use of water shortage input and increase water productivity in
production of crops. In the present research, different indices
of water productivity for production of crops in two small
holding utilization system and Rural Production Cooperative
in Khosef County have been calculated and compared. The required
data have been collected with a sample of 247 farmers
and with two-staged cluster sampling and with questionnaire.
To calculate and compare water productivity, Benefit Per Drop,
Crop Per Drop and Net Benefit Per Drop indices have been
used. Results showed that the said indices were different for
similar products in two utilization systems and in most crops,
the said indices in rural production cooperative system were
higher than small holding system. Therefore, gathering of
smallholder’s farmers as rural production cooperative can lead
to more desirable utilization of water resources and reduction
of drought effects and water crisis.