Agricultural Water Foot Print and Virtual Water Budget in Iran Related to the Consumption of Crop Products by Conserving Irrigation Efficiency

Abstract

In this study we estimate agricultural water footprint and its components from consumption perspective in arid and semi-arid region like Iran. This study is based on blue water consumption in irrigated land. Iran has imported net virtual water about 11.64 billion cubic meters (bcm) as international crop trade in [2005][2006]. Therefore, Iran has depended on virtual water imports. By conserving about 60% irrigation efficiency, the total water requirement to produce imported crops in Iran is nearly 20.78 billion cubic meters. It is nearly 9 percent of renewable water resources and 12.65% agricultural appropriated water which has added to internal water resources. Agricultural virtual water budget is about 112.78 Gm 3 /yr. Agricultural water footprint is 110.2 Gm 3 /yr. About 12.83% of agricultural water footprint of Iran is related to external water resources on the country boundaries. It means external water footprint. Water dependency, water self-sufficiency and water scarcity indexes in agricultural sector of Iran, are estimated 10.1%, 89.9% and 70.8%, respectively.

Assessment of Virtual Water Flows in Iran Using a Multi-Regional Input-Output Analysis

“…As such, this study investigated virtual water transfer patterns in Iran, which have been proven to have a key role in global water savings [58]. Unlike other studies that concluded that Iran was a net virtual water importer [13,52,59], we showed that Iran exported 1811 Mm 3 of water.…”

The Water Footprint Assessment of Agriculture in Banjar River Watershed

“…At provincial level Zhao et al, 27 estimated the regional water footprint of Leshan city in China. At country level, Kampman, 28 Ahmed and Ribbe, 29 Ge et al, 30 , Arabi et al, 31 quantified the WF of India, rainfed and irrigated areas of Sudan, China and Iran. Chapagain and Hoekstra 32 quantified the water footprint of rice at global level from production and consumption perspectives.…”

Optimization of the Cropping Pattern of Main Cereals and Improving Water Productivity: Application of the Water Footprint Concept

“…There have been a few studies conducted to investigate the impact of spatial variations of climate, management and soil on the agricultural water footprint in Iran (Montazar and Zadbagher, ; Ababaei and Ramezani Etedali, , ; Bazrafshan et al ., ). Most of water footprint (WF) studies conducted across the country have been limited to small areas or a specific crop (Dehghanpur and Bakhshoodeh, ; Arabi et al ., ; Babazadeh and Sarai Tabrizi, ; Pourjafarinejad et al ., ; Omidi and Homaee, ). These studies do not provide a thorough insight into the main issues and do not help in devising effective policies.…”

“…Iran's population will reach about 89 million by 2030 (United Nations (UN), 2015). This population will need 150 Gm 3 yr À1 (giga cubic metres per year) of water to supply food security based on 2.6 million calories of energy per capita (Alizadeh and Keshavarz, 2005;Arabi et al, 2012).…”