Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of the limited water resources in Iran and the Energy Ministry’s data indicate that water consumption in Iran’s agro sector is at least 20% higher than the global average, causing serious concern among water officials.
According to a survey conducted by the Persian economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad, close to 90% of water withdrawals from dams and groundwater are for agricultural usage, 46 times and 15 times more than the amount of water used in industries and household sectors respectively, the Energy Ministry’s news portal reported.
The average global water use efficiency in farming industry in the world is 70%, whereas the figure in Iran is 90% due to unsustainable and wasteful farming practices that are the norm for decades.
Drawing a parallel between Iran and other countries, the report noted that water consumption in Iran is 10% more than underdeveloped and developing nations, and 60% above acceptable standards in developed countries.
Of the total annual water consumption in Iran, which has surpassed 100 billion cubic meters, as little as 6 bcm and 2 bcm are used in household and industrial sectors respectively and a massive 92 bcm are gobbled up in the farming industry.
Nonetheless, the statistics are totally different in other parts of the world. For instance, in developing and underdeveloped states, agriculture, industries and households account for 82%, 10% and 8% of total water consumption in the same order.
Water is a critical input for agricultural production and plays an important role in food security, but what is happening in Iran cannot be justified.
In the coming years, climate change will bring about enormous and unpredictable changes in the availability of water.
Most officials and water users fail to invest adequately in the maintenance of irrigation and drainage (I&D) systems. While inadequate management and operation may play a part in the poor performance of I&D systems, it is especially the failure to sufficiently maintain systems that results in their declining performance and the subsequent need for rehabilitation. The failure to provide adequate funds for maintenance of I&D systems has resulted in the build-neglect-rehabilitate-neglect cycle commonly observed in the sector.
The survey also shows that in developed nations, industries use the lion’s share of water supply (60%) and farmers need close to 30% and household consumption is around 10%.
At present, Iran's per capita water consumption is 190 liters per day, but it is 153 liters, 142 liters, 139 liters, 129 liters and 112 liters in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Belgium respectively.
Decline in Precipitation
According to Firouz Qasemzadeh, the head of Data and Information Department at Iran Water Resources Management Company, since the beginning of the current water year (Sept. 23), only 4.5 millimeters of rainfall have been registered across Iran, which shows a 35% decrease compared with the same period of last year.
“This is the third year in a row that the fall season has started with low precipitation and limited rainfall in the northern regions of the country,” he said.
Water have entered dam reservoirs in different regions since Sept. 23, indicating a 12% decline in comparison with the same period of a year ago.
“Currently, only 37% of the dams are full and the country’s water conditions are not favorable. The problem is not in the drinking sector, but in the supply of agricultural water in provinces such as Isfahan, Khuzestan, Ilam and those in the central plateau,” he said.
Referring to Tehran’s conditions, Qasemzadeh noted that 40% of the capital city's drinking water are supplied by surface resources and Tehran’s dams are currently only 19% full.
Domestic reports say advanced irrigation methods have been applied to two million hectares of farmland in the past and irrigation efficiency has grown from 39% to 44% — still a far cry from the global rates.
Modern irrigation systems can help reduce water loss by allowing farmers to control the flow of water.
Drip Irrigation
The use of drip irrigation that helps reduce water consumption by up to 40% is being promoted. The globally popular system enables farmers and horticulturists to adjust the amount of water they need and avoid waste.
Using recycled wastewater is gradually assisting farmers to meet a notable portion of water demand in their fields.
Given the large volume of wastewater produced in cities and metropolises, the recycling scheme is expected to greatly reduce dependence on and depletion of groundwater resources.
Another step has been the expansion of greenhouse farming. In the first half of the current fiscal year (ended Sept. 22), about 1,400 hectares of greenhouses were set up, which is twice the total area that went under this method of farming last year.
Iran covers a total area of about 1.75 million square kilometers. Cultivable area is about 51 million hectares, or 29% of the total area.
Located in one of the world's most water-stressed regions, Iran's average precipitation rate over at least the past 10 years has been lower than the global average.
The country's nearly two-decade-long struggle with drought, combined with high consumption and waste, has led to a dramatic decline in renewable water resources.
An estimated 37 million Iranians from a total of 85 million are living in water-stressed regions.
