Expansion of Agricultural Area Not an Option

Due to the shortage of water resources in Iran, expansion of area under agricultural cultivation is not an option, a deputy agriculture minister said. We need to focus on increasing farmlands. One main problem we face today is a persisting drought that has lasted for 15 years now. This has resulted in an increased attention to water management and the management of consumption as well as upgrading irrigation systems,” Ali Akbari was also quoted as saying by IRNA. kbari noted that the government has earmarked 33 trillion rials (about $874.2 million) for the expansion of modern irrigation systems in the current Iranian year that started on March 21.