Abstract
This paper presents a methodology for defining spatial priorities for irrigation development in Vojvodina Province (Serbia). The purpose of the methodology is to take into account several UN Sustainable Development Goals and to try to minimize land degradation, while maximizing water use efficiency. In the first step, areas that can be irrigated over long-term periods with minimal risk of soil degradation were selected in the geographic information system (GIS) environment. Then, three experts used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to define the weights of four criteria related to water use efficiency. After that, the consensus model was used to obtain group weights of the criteria. These criteria were standardized and presented as GIS layers. Finally, cell values in all the layers were multiplied by corresponding consensus weights of the criteria. The weighted layers are summarized in the final map representing spatial priorities for irrigation development.
Highlights
As reported by the UN [1], water scarcity already affects around 1.2 billion people while 500 million people are approaching this situation
For the purpose of defining spatial priorities for irrigation development based on the three targets indicated in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we propose treating soil and water conservation criteria separately, not combined as they are in previous case studies
In the first step of the proposed methodology, the whole area within the first two classes of soil suitability for irrigation was extracted in the geographic information system (GIS) environment (Figure 3b)
Summary
As reported by the UN [1], water scarcity already affects around 1.2 billion people while 500 million people are approaching this situation. Similar problems can be expected in the Republic of Serbia (Figure 1a) where the frequency and intensity of droughts have increased, especially during the summer crop-growing season [2]. Vojvodina Province (Figure 1b)—as the main agricultural region in Serbia with 75% of agricultural land 16,000 km2 )—is vulnerable because the variation in crop yields in Vojvodina is strongly correlated with the amount and distribution of rain during the growing season [3]. Drought events and occurrences of inland excess water in Serbia affect agricultural production and the food industry, which leads to variations of supply and demand, and fluctuations of the price of agricultural products [4]. Drought may become a problem in the future development of Serbia [5]
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