Integrating qualitative perspectives in holistic assessments of sustainability in agriculture water management practices

Emerging concerns regarding sustainability in agricultural water management, driven by climate variability, demographic pressures, and resource constraints, have heightened the need for effective assessment tools to facilitate informed decision-making. While numerous methodologies exist, many are overly quantitative, technically complex, and disconnected from the realities of stakeholders, leaving decision-makers feeling "lost in translation." To address these shortcomings, this study introduces the “Sustainability Assessment of Agricultural Water Management-Qualitative Framework (SAAWM-QF)”, a simpler, transparent, replicable, and policy-ready approach that emphasizes inclusivity and interpretability. This framework is structured into three hierarchical levels: pillars for holistic analysis, under which themes referred to as factors capture the range of influences, and indicators that operationalize these factors for data collection through stakeholder feedback and site-specific evidence. Subjective judgments are quantified using a five-point Likert scale (with the ideal score being 5), while analyses are conducted by medians, and uncertainty is represented through interquartile ranges and confidence intervals. A semantic color-card system (green, yellow, orange, red, and black) translates scores into intuitive visual signals, enabling prompt decision-making across diverse contexts. By transforming qualitative insights into standardized, policy-relevant metrics, the SAAWM-QF facilitates consistent evaluations, cross-context comparisons, and evidence-based prioritization. Its adaptable nature allows for integration across various agro-hydrological settings, making it a valuable tool for water management planning, governance, and investment appraisal. Ultimately, this framework promotes adaptive management and policy-aligned interventions aimed at fostering inclusive, profitable, and innovation-driven water strategies.