2. Overview of the national
agricultural sector (1)
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Islamic Republic of Iran is located in arid and semi
arid zones of West Asia, with an average annual
precipitation of 250 mm. The country has a total
area of 165 million ha, of which around 37 million
ha are arable land, 84 million ha rangelands, 14
million ha forests and the rest wastelands, deserts,
mountains and lakes. 18.5 million ha out of 37
million ha is currently under cultivation including
8.5 million ha (%46) irrigated and 10 million ha
(%54) rainfed. Irrigated agriculture consumes more
than %85 of total available fresh water resources.
3. Overview of the national
agricultural sector (2)
InternationalConferenceonPoliciesforWaterandFoodSecurityinDryAreas–
24-26June,Cairo,Egypt
3
Some 28 agroclimatic zones have been differentiated, of which
only six (arid-cool winter-warm summer, arid-cool winter-very
warm summer, arid-mild winter-very warm summer, semi arid-
cold winter-warm summer, semi arid-cool winter-warm summer,
and semi arid-cold winter-mild summer) occupy nearly 90% of
Iran.
However, country benefits from favorable conditions for
producing vast variety of tropical, sub- tropical and alpine crops.
Despite unjustified sanctions imposed to Islamic Republic of Iran,
enormous potentials and capacities and a wide range of
development projects merged with hard efforts of farmers and
producers have made Iran’s agricultural ranking among the top 10
producer of 23 crops.
4. Overview of the national
agricultural sector (3)
InternationalConferenceonPoliciesforWaterandFoodSecurityinDryAreas–
24-26June,Cairo,Egypt
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The agricultural sector remains one of the most
important economic sectors in Iran. This sector
accounts for around %16 of GDP and %22 of
employment, while providing %90 of food supply,
%20 of non-oil exports, and %85 of raw materials
used in agro-industry.
Last year Iran produced 107 million tons of
agricultural products, while it was around 30 million
before Islamic revolution period of time.
5. Overview of the national
agricultural sector (4)
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24-26June,Cairo,Egypt
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By the time being Iran is the main producer of saffron,
pistachio, caviar, barberry, berries, and holds the ranking of
second to tenth in producing apricot, dates, water melon,
cantaloupe, cherries, apple, cucumber sheep meat, quince,
almond, walnut, wool, vegetables, hops, peas, milk, tomato,
grapes, onion, black cherry, kiwi, milk, spices, peach,
tangerine, lime and lemon, citrus, squash, winter squash,
lentil, tea, honey and persimmons.
In spite of decline in world grain production and successive
drought, Iran has increased 3.6 million tons of its grains
production reaching to 19.5 tons in 2010. Wheat has been the
main grain produced in 2010 in Iran with a 3.2 million tons
surge and reaching to 13 million tons in 2010.
6. Overview of the national
agricultural sector (5)
InternationalConferenceonPoliciesforWaterandFoodSecurityinDryAreas–
24-26June,Cairo,Egypt
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Wheat is the major crop in the country, where it is grown on
6.4 million hectares. Irrigated wheat covers one-third of the
total wheat area but accounts for more than two-thirds of the
total wheat production. Iran has attained self-sufficiency in
wheat production for the first time since past 40 years during
the 2003-2004. This testifies the successful adoption of
effective soil and crop management practices combined with
improved cultivars for increasing the welfare of rural
communities in dry areas of Iran through the sustainable use
of land and water resources. The participation of farmers,
researchers, and extension workers in the testing,
demonstration and dissemination of improved technologies
has led to better awareness of the technology and to its
adoption by a large number of farmers.
7. Water used in different sectors
InternationalConferenceon
PoliciesforWaterandFood
SecurityinDryAreas–24-26June,
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Sectors Consumption
( 109 m3 )
Consumption
(%)
By
( 109 m3)
By
(%)
Agriculture 85.2 92.1 99.7 85.3
Urban and
industry
6.2 6.7 8.7 7.4
Environment - - 6.3 5.4
Miscellaneous 1.1 1.2 2.3 1.9
Total 92.5 100 117.0 100
Overall irrigation efficiency is 38% which is lower than the world’s
average irrigation efficiency but, water productivity is roughly 1.25
kg.m3 which is good.
8. Structure of Water in Iran
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There are several water related research institutes
(e.g. AERI , SWRI in Ministry of Agriculture or TAMAB
in Ministry of Energy), research centers, water
departments in the Universities, and Consultant
Engineers Companies (private sector) (e.g. Mahab-e
Ghods) also have an important role in this regard.
There are totally 49 Research/ Education institutes
related to water and 14 research institutes
specifically on water research, 25 societies on water
or agriculture, 47 consultant engineers in water, and
178 manufacturing and or design companies in
irrigation (specially in pressurized irrigation systems).
9. Structure of Water in Iran
Strategic goals and duties
Integrated study of basins (watersheds)
Land consolidation, on-farm improvements, and
infrastructure activities in farms and orchards for
efficient use of agricultural inputs, especially
water
Management of water delivery in tertiary and
lower order irrigation canals and their O&M
activities
Study and execute small scale water supply
development projects (following permission of
Ministry of Energy)
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11. Foroptimumuseof waterallocatedto the
farmers,the followingpoliciesareconsidered:
• Control of water resources and volumetric allocation of water
to the farms based on crops water requirement and
recommended irrigation efficiencies.
• Based on the established law (established in 1983)
water charge of the regulated surface water is
between 1-3% of value of the cultivated crops
• Based on the established law (Dec., 1993), water pumping
from groundwater resources must be in accordance with the
crop water requirement and proposed cropping pattern in each
region. In this case, 0.25-1.0% of the commercial value of
crop yield is considered for the ground water supervision.
• Subsidizing policies for water charging and supervision
charging for farmers who their yields are higher than
average.
• Termination of water allocation to the farmers who in two
successive years consumed water more than permissible level.
• Encouraging policies for the farmers who use less
water and maintain their production in reasonable
level using proper management practices.
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12. Equitable Distribution of Water Law
• This Law is one of the important national acts on water
policies in Iran (After Islamic Revolution)
• (the law was approved by parliament in 1982 and later
some modifications were made in the law)
• The Law consists of five chapters, 52 article and 27 notes
The chapters are:
Public and national ownership of water
Ground water resources
Surface water resources
Duties and authorities
Penalties and regulations
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PoliciesforWaterandFood
SecurityinDryAreas–24-26June,
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13. Some important articles in
Equitable Distribution of Water Law
• Authority of conservation, permission and oversight to use of water is
by the Government
• Use of ground water resources needs permission of Ministry of Energy
• The wells should be equipped with water measuring devices
• Allocation and permission of water resources utilization (for different
usages including agriculture) is by the Ministry of Energy
• Distribution of agricultural water, water fee collection, and oversight
charges to ground waters are by the Ministry of Agriculture
• Operation and Maintenance of main and secondary canals is the
Ministry of Energy task while O&M of tertiary and lower order canals
(lined or earth channels) is by the Ministry of Agriculture
• The ministry of Energy should determine the water price for all types
of consumption and to receive it from the water users. The water users
are subject to pay for it, otherwise the water distribution to them will
be terminated
• The executive manual of this law should be prepared by the two
responsible ministries (Ministries of Energy and Agriculture) and
following its approval by the government will be applicable
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16. Agricultural Issues in the
Karkheh River Basin
(Case study)
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24-26June,Cairo,Egypt
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17. Geographical location and
boundaries of the basin
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18. InternationalConferenceon
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Distribution of irrigated and rainfed
lands in KRB
Code
Total Area
(Km2)
%
Mountain
(Km2)
Plain
(Km2)
1 11459 22.6 6220 5039
2 5350 10.5 2547 2803
3 16411 32.3 11914 4497
4 8955 17.7 5811 3144
5 8589 16.9 953 7636
Total 50764 100 27645 23119
Total arable Land in Karkheh basin=1064085 ha
Plain and mountain-side
Code
Total
(ha)
Irrigated
(ha)
Rain-Feed
(ha)
Remained
(ha)
1 503900 136101 186716 181083
2 280300 27605 136588 116107
3 449700 48963 344462 56275
4 314400 54331 221157 38912
5 763600 111164 5201 647235
Total 2311900 378164 894124 1039612
Total area under irrigated and rain feed crops is
1272288 ha and percentage of lands under irrigated
crops is %30 and rain feed crops is %70
Plain and mountain-side
Code
Total
(ha)
Irrigated
(%)
Rain-Feed
(%)
Remained
(%)
1 503900 27 37.05 35.95
2 280300 9.85 48.75 41.4
3 449700 10.9 76.6 12.5
4 314400 17.3 70.3 12.4
5 763600 14.6 0.7 84.7
Total 2311900
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Irrigation and water consumption in the Basin
The common method of irrigation in the Basin is surface
irrigation (basin and furrow).
Irrigation efficiencies in the plains and Sub-Basins of
KRB varies between 28-36%. As a general, in the
regions which farmers only use ground water it is higher
and inversely and in the regions which mainly use
surface water resources it is quite low.
The rate of irrigation water consumption per hectare in
the Sub-Basins varies. The highest amount is in
Kashkan Sub-Basin (due to more frequent irrigation
and low irrigation efficiency) and it is about 12000
CM/ha and the lowest amount is in Seymareh Sub-
Basin and is about 9800 CM/ha.
20. InternationalConferenceon
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ProblemsandLimitationsof theKRB
• High irrigation losses and low irrigation efficiency
(Conveyance and Distribution) due to lack of
investment on infrastructures.
• Lack of farmers knowledge and skills and
inappropriate use of resources and agricultural
inputs including water, fertilizer, pesticide,
improved seeds, and machinery.
• Lack of enough research about on-farm activities,
plant improvement, and soil fertility.
• In appropriate land use (irrigated and rain-fed) in
some parts of the basin.
• Sever water scarcity in some basins, e.g.
Seymareh.
21. InternationalConferenceon
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ProblemsandLimitationsof theKRB (Cont’d)
• Water logging and drainage requirement in the lands
which are irrigated by the irrigation networks
especially Salinity hazard in south regions of the
basin.
• Irrigation networks in the basin are not in satisfactory
condition and O&M in the systems is poor.
• Traditional irrigation networks also are in poor
condition and are the major factor for water losses
and land degradation.
• Agricultural activities, except in some cases are mostly
traditional and not adopted to new technologies.
22. InternationalConferenceon
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• Agricultural units are small scale (50.2 % of the basin
beneficiaries have small scale farms ( less than 5 ha ).
This together with its scatter in some regions causes waste
of efforts, loss of water and agricultural inputs, and finally
low production.
• Pressurized irrigation systems (mostly sprinkler system)
are not efficiently used and in most cases they are replaced
by surface irrigation method again due to inappropriate
design, lack of service and spare parts, and in most cases
due security requirements.
• Low interest of private sector for investment in agriculture
especially in soil and water related activities due to low rate
of investment return in comparison to other activities in
other sectors.
ProblemsandLimitationsoftheKRB (Cont’d)
23. InternationalConferenceon
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Problemsand Limitationsof the KRB (Cont’d)
• There is no irrigation association or institution among
farmers because of cultural problems. Some farmers
cultivate their farms just for social ethics.
• Low administration and organizational development
for efficient use of skilled technique and human
resources for agricultural production.
• The farmers of the Basin are mostly uneducated and
old.
• Villages in the basin are too scattered therefore service
to them is difficult.
24. InternationalConferenceon
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Problemsand Limitationsof the KRB (Cont’d)
• There is no irrigation association or institution among
farmers because of cultural problems. Some farmers
cultivate their farms just for social ethics.
• Low administration and organizational development
for efficient use of skilled technique and human
resources for agricultural production.
• The farmers of the Basin are mostly uneducated and
old.
• Villages in the basin are too scattered therefore service
to them is difficult.
