Social Network Analysis of Institutional Actors of Pluralist Agricultural Extension System in Sustainable Development of Agricultural Water Resources in Khouzestan Province

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the social network of institutional actors in the pluralistic agricultural extension system in the sustainable development of agricultural water resources in Khouzestan Province. In this regard, using direct observation and unstructured interviews with experts and key informants (20 people), 25 governmental and non-governmental institutions active in the field of agricultural education and extension in the sustainable development of agricultural water resources in Khouzestan Province were identified and the connections and interactions between these institutions were analyzed and examined using the social network analysis approach by 50 experts of these 25 institutions in four networks: sharing scientific and research information, implementing joint research projects, exchanging educational content and providing technological support. SPSS₂₁ and UCINET_6.798 software were used to analyze the data in this phase of the study. According to the research results, the links of sharing scientific and research information and exchanging educational content among the actors have moderate institutional cohesion. However, in the links of implementing joint research projects and technological support, dense institutional networks are not observed and the level of social cohesion based on these two links is weak. The results of the study also showed that in the links under study, the Water and Electricity Organization, the Agricultural Jihad Organization, the University Centers, and the Agricultural Research Centers are among the most important and effective key actors in this network, which have high control and intermediary power and are able to control the transactions of other institutional actors. These institutions are among the most important and effective key actors in this network, and are at a desirable level in terms of authority, influence, and ability to control the network, and they play an effective role in the pluralistic agricultural extension and education system in the sustainable development of water resources.