The excessive use of groundwater resources in the agricultural sector is a serious threat that can harm future generations, the spokesperson of the Majlis Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Commission said.
“While huge amounts of water are consumed in the agricultural sector, the process of implementing new advanced irrigation systems is moving at a snail’s pace,” Zabihollah Azami Sardoui was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
“According to the latest statistics provided by the Majlis Research Center, about 85% of water resources are consumed in the agricultural sector, while the figure averages 70% in the world and under 50% in developed countries,” he said.
“Currently, between 25% and 35% of farmlands across the country are equipped with pressurized irrigation systems, and we are facing water wastage in other agricultural lands.”
In pressurized irrigation systems, water is pressurized and precisely applied to the plants through a system of pipes. Pressurized irrigation systems, as opposed to surface irrigation systems, are more effective in optimizing water. They improve farm distribution, enhance control over timing, reduce wastage of land in laying the field network, lower demand for labor and make better use of limited water resources.
There are many variations of pressurized irrigation systems but the two major ones are: drip irrigation systems and sprinkler systems. These variations depend on the type of field, the crop and the kind of water delivery fittings needed, but the components of the basic system remain the same.
They consist of the control station where the pressure is applied; the mains and sub-mains, which are pipes of differing dimensions; the manifolds or feeder pipelines; and the laterals or irrigating pipelines equipped with emitters (in drip irrigation systems) or other fixtures delivering water to plants or spray booms for forage and grains and center-pivot systems (in sprinkler systems).
Pressurized irrigation systems have the potential to avoid water loss related to surface irrigation, thereby increasing the open irrigation application efficiency from 45-60% to pressurized irrigation with an efficiency of 75-95%.
Pressurized irrigation systems for small land-holders have recently been popularized. Examples of lower-cost systems are drip irrigation with drip emitters, drip tape and porous-wall pipes, as well as the hand-moved hose basin system for trees, pipe distribution irrigation systems and hose-move sprinklers.
Smart Meters, Illegal Wells
The spokesperson also emphasized the necessity of installing smart meters on agricultural wells as an effective step to reduce water consumption.
Smart wells have sensors and valves installed downhole to allow easy and systematic monitoring.
A smart meter is a modern electricity meter that digitally sends meter readings to energy suppliers. It ensures accurate energy bills and helps users better monitor their consumption.
Utilities in many developed and developing countries are promoting such meters for economic and environmental reasons, especially to reduce cost and consumption.
Of the total 200,000 authorized agro wells in Iran, over 131,000 [65%] are equipped with smart meters and their water extraction can be monitored online.
Pointing to the existence of 338,000 illegal wells in the agricultural sector, which is more than the number of authorized wells, Sardoui said it is difficult to manage this issue because farmers make a living from using these wells.
“To address the problem, first a suitable alternative should be found to ensure farmers don’t lose their income and then the condition of the unauthorized wells can be determined,” he added.
