Analysis of Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Improving agricultural water use efficiency (WUE) and reducing the proportion of agricultural water consumption are of great significance for coping with the water crisis in the world, particularly in northwest China. However, considering the lack of WUE indicators for the selection and an evaluation of system construction in Xinjiang, the implementation of the strictest water resources management system in this province has been seriously restricted. In order to evaluate the agricultural water utilization situation of 14 administrative regions in Xinjiang, a synthetical evaluation model is proposed combining the analytic hierarchy process method and the fuzzy evaluation method. Firstly, an evaluation system composed of the target layer (i.e., water use efficiency), the criterion layer (i.e., water use situation, engineering measure, planting structure) and the index layer (e.g., utilization coefficient of irrigation water, weighting irrigation quota, grain production per cubic meter of irrigation water, etc.) is constructed. Secondly, a classification standard of evaluation indicators is put forward and a fuzzy evaluation model is introduced into calculate agricultural WUE. Finally, key evaluation indicators that lead to these administrative regions with very low WUE are identified, and discussions on improving agricultural WUE in Kashgar are made. The evaluation results of this study are beneficial for providing support for reforming agricultural water use and promoting sustainable agricultural development in Xinjiang.