An Evaluation System of the Modernization Level of Irrigation Districts with an Analysis of Obstacle Factors: A Case Study for North China

Irrigation districts are a pivotal infrastructure of agricultural water conservancy engineering. Implementing modernization will be the main task of large-scale irrigation districts for a considerable amount of time in the future. In this study, four typical large-scale irrigation districts in North China were investigated: the Renmin Shengliqu, Weishan, Shijin, and Zuncun irrigation districts. The concept of a modern irrigation district was deconstructed to establish an evaluation index system which includes four second-level indicators, twelve third-level indicators, and thirty fourth-level indicators. A hybrid approach based on AHP and OWA was used to quantify indicator weights used in group decision making. TOPSIS was introduced to measure the modernization level of the four irrigation districts. An obstacle factor diagnosis model was applied to search for key obstacle factors that will affect the modernization and improvement of the irrigation districts. The results showed that (1) the modernization levels of the Renmin Shengliqu, Weishan, Shijin, and Zuncun irrigation districts in 2020 and 2025 were 0.3916 and 0.5755, 0.3748 and 0.5396, 0.4493 and 0.6012, and 0.2343 and 0.6166, respectively. The evaluation results indicate that the four irrigation districts are still in the beginning phase (or even preparation phase) of the modernization process. (2) Eight indicators were identified as the main common obstacle factors for the four evaluated irrigation districts, including the irrigation water-use efficiency factor, the coverage proportion of information technology, the proportion of efficient water conservation irrigation areas, and so on. (3) There are two effective methods to enhance the modernization level of the four irrigation districts: improving water resource utilization efficiency and strengthening the management system with an emphasis on informatization. The present study can enrich the theoretical evaluation of irrigation districts and provide a scientific basis for the modernized construction and management of irrigation districts in China.