Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.18
By Leman Zeynalova, Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
The greenhouse planting areas in Iran have been expanded by 1,400 hectares in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21, 2018), as compared to the same period of the last year, said iran’s Minister of Agriculture Jihad Mahmoud Hojjati.
He made the remarks during the water economy conference in Iran, Trend reports citing Mizan news agency.
The minister pointed out that greenhouse planting allows for using water ten times more effectively.
The volume of Iran’s water resources is known well, said Hojjati, adding that it is necessary to prevent water waste.
He went on to add that water canals play an important role in meeting Iran’s water demand and therefore, it is necessary to involve highly skilled specialists in water management.
“On average, water waste in agriculture is 70 percent in the world, while this figure is much higher in Iran. Water canals are built up to the planting areas in other countries and Iran has also worked out a program in this sphere. It is necessary to bring water to the planting areas with minimum waste, since the effective use of water is very important,” said Hojjati.
Statistics show that Iran ranks 13th among the most water-stressed countries in 2040. Due to unconditional agricultural activities and extraction of too much of its aquifers, today Iran has lost much of its underground water resources causing large holes in almost 50 percent of its plains.
Unlike some who blame low precipitation for all the problems of water shortage, there are others who think mismanagement of water resources is the main cause.
Efficient water usage is a must for Iranians either in industry, agriculture or home usage. Many say unstudied dam construction is one of the main reasons for water shortage because it impounds huge reserves of water which then is evaporated into sky under the heat of sun; however, one should not forget the benefits that dams offer including curbing floods, supplying drinking water and generation of electricity.