Water Saving Approaches on Agricultural Consumption in Iran Mehrzad Ehsani Director General on Operation of Irrigation Structures, Iran’s Water Resources Management Authority

 Population: 75 million (18 th in the world);  Area: 165 Mha (18 th in the world);  Climate: Arid & semi-arid;  Precipitation: 250mm annually;  History & Civilization: one of the most ancient countries in the world;  Irrigated Area: Around 9 million ha; World ranking the fifth after China, India, USA, and Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Iran INTRODUCTION

The Precipitation is less than 100 mm in more than 50% of to total area of Iran Annual Precipitation in Iran

Per capita renewable water resources Rapid population increase is the most important factor of per capita renewable water decrease in Iran ‎during the last 100 years. Iran’s population increased from 8.6 million in 1900 to 75 million in 2012 that ‎is about 8.7 times as many as the previous 11 decades. The per capita renewable water resources ‎‎(PCRWR) of the country is decreased from cubic meters in 1900 to about 1730 cubic meters in ‎‎2010. Trend of Population Growth from 1900 to 2010Trends of per capita renewable water resources

Arable land37 Million ha2010 Cultivated land18.5 Million ha2010 Irrigated lands8.5-9 Million ha( ) Rainfed area Million ha( ) Fallow land4.5-5 Million ha( ) Agricultural contribution in National GDP 13 percent2007 Agricultural Job opportunities 3.3 million (23 %)2009 Live in rural areas22.2 million (31 %) 2. AGRICULTURE

ITEMShareYear Irrigated lands Million ha ( ) Share in Food Production Around 86% ( ) Surface Irrigation 91.4 % 2011 Localized Irrigation 3.4% (423,385 ha) 2011 Sprinkler Irrigation 5.2 % (604,448 ha) 2011 Largest Irrigation Network Gilan: 198,000 ha Dez: 125,000 ha IRRIGATION

Location of Irrigation Networks

Annual crops production of Irrigated and rain-fed lands Irrigation plays vital role in food production and improving food security ‎in the country. Irrigation areas are approximately equal to the rain-fed areas ‎; ‎however, most of the production comes from the areas under irrigation. For the past ‎‎5 years‎ ‎, about 86 percent of Iran total agricultural products are from irrigated ‎farming. ‎ Role of Irrigation in Food Production

Agricultural Production in Iran Ranking in World Name Ranking in World Name 3 rd Almonds 1 st Pistachios 7 th Grape 2 nd Date 7 th Tomato 2 nd Watermelons 7 th Peach 2 nd Apricot 8 th Orange 3 rd Cherries 9 th Lemon 3 rd Apple 11 th Wheat 3 rd Walnuts, Ref: FAO, 2008 Iran Share of Fruits and Vegetables Production in the World is 1.93% which ranked as 8 th in the World ; reported by FAO.

Water Use Water Resources BCM%MCM % Surface Water R Groundwater R Water Treatment of City Wastewater and Non- conventional Water Total

5. WATER STORAGE & HYDROPOWER No. Total Capacity (MCM) Regulating Volume (MCM) Generation (MV) Under Operation31642,56031,2548,800 Under Construction13226,37211,7155,648 Under Study34046,49914,2367,532 Total788115,43157,20622,060

Water Saving Approaches

Development plan of Irrigation Systems Iran government is ‎determined to develop irrigation systems by emphasizing on developing controlled irrigation methods ‎such as pressurized irrigation, greenhouse, and application of pipes instead of open canals. ‎ According to the performed studies, there is the possibility of developing pressurized irrigation for about 4 million hectares in the country. Hence, the government is committed to pay about 85% of total investment as the grant and the rest free-interest loans for investment of pressurized irrigation to persuade farmers to extensively use such methods.

Development plan of Irrigation Systems ha ,000,000 ha ,000,000 ha 2015 Localized and Sprinkler Irrigation

Irrigation Efficiency IE: 32 % FAO 1990 IE: 45 % IWRM 2010 IE:? 2020 IWRM: Iran Water Resources Management Authority

 Water delivery to around 2 million hectares irrigation network (or 15 BCM water) will be managed and controlled constantly.  Applying automation system for better water management Equipment of irrigation networks to ultrasonic water measurement 15 BCM irrigation water will be managed

Groundwater Management Deep and semi-deep wells 47 BCM Wells Water feesEnergy PriceGauge

Iran’s Subsidized Reform Subsidized Reform is the most recent and ‎important policy in water and energy supply and demand: According to this law, real economic value of water and energy shall gradually be ‎estimated and materialized so that the full cost of water and energy ‎in the end of the 5th year of the programm should be covered (domestics and industries).  Energy Price (Electricity) in Agricultural sector has been increased 3 times in first the phase comparing to previous one.  Effect of first phase is under study to decide applying the second phase of subsidized reform.  Increasing Water Fee in agricultural sector is under investigation.  In general, around 5% reduction in water consumption has been reported in domestics sector.

Wells Programmable Gauges It is the policy that all the agricultural wells must be equipped to Programmable gauges: – Share of farmers from groundwater will be determined each year, and Water allocation will be charged on the specific Card! – Farmer will not be able to withdrawal water more then permitted allocation. – Gauges are completely programmable (monthly or yearly). – In the first step, around 25, 000 wells equipped to Gauge.

INVESTMENT ENVELOPE (US$ million) Size of project Small-scale irrigation developme nt Rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation scheme Large Scale Irrigation developme nt Small- medium- scale hydropower Large scale hydropow er Total Time Frame Short-term Medium- term Long-term Total % 21.2%8.2%60.9%4.5%5.1%100%

Policy: Increase Farm Size minimum acceptable area of farmers would be 4-10 ha for irrigated land and ha in rainfed farms (Avoiding land fragmentation). In order to support landowners to join small holdings above the determined limits, the government would provide special financial and technical privileges to pay the insurance fees of such farmers’ products for at most 5 years after the land integration has taken place.

Approaches Raising Public Awareness, through media, cartoon, direct training and expansion of farmers. Issuing license for volume of permitted water allocation according to size of land, crop pattern and water availability for all agricultural land, and control not to use more the permitted. Financial Support for innovation in technique and technology in water saving in agriculture. Revising water fees, (Surface water fee for irrigation network is 1-3 % of produced crops in hectare according to the development of irrigation system).

Conclusions Technical, Managerial and policies programs, as well as, investment on water resources and irrigation infrastructures in addition with training and education of farmers and field engineers towards water saving in agriculture and enhancing water productivity resulted positive impact on better management of limited fresh water in Iran. In fact, It is not the end, we are in the beginning of long way to achieve the comprehensive water management

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