Tehran, Iran, February 24
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
The renewable underground water reserves of the country are down at 88 billion cubic meters, Iran's deputy Minister of Energy Alireza Daemi said.
He said water shortage has moved population away from formerly arable lands to population hubs such as big cities, rendering a great threat to the country, IRIB news agency reported February 24.
The total rainfall of the current water year was 141 millimeters, he noted.
The long-term average of precipitation in Iran is 219 millimeters.
The official said land is slumping in many areas of the country, adding even big rivers such as the Karun are now polluted and scarce of water.
Iran's agricultural sector consumes over 80 percent of the country's annual water usage. This is while, according to officials, Iranian-made agricultural products are not able to compete foreign rivals.
Iran's agricultural production is outdated and of low efficiency, adding to production prices.
The government has recently announced plans to carry out extra-territorial cultivation of agricultural products in countries such as Brazil and Turkmenistan.