Comparing the Policies of Water Extraction Reduction and Irrigation Efficiency Improvement: A Case Study of Razavi Khorasan Province of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author and Assistant Professor, Agricultural Research, Educatin and Natural Resources Center of Razavi Khorasan Province, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Mashhad. Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol. Iran

3 Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Iran (

4 Assistant Professor, Agricultural Research, Education and Natural Resources Center of Razavi Khorasan Province, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Mashhad. Iran.

Abstract

This study aimed at comparing the effects of the policies of ‘reducing the water extraction from groundwater resources’ and ‘increasing the irrigation efficiency. For this purpose, five counties including Mashhad, Sabzevar, Neyshabour, Torbat-e Jam and Torbat-e Heydarieh were selected in Razavi Khorasan province of Iran. The effects of these policies on the deficit of groundwater reservoirs, production, net imports, net social benefits and farmers' income during 2012-2013 were evaluated using a Positive Mathematical Programming model with Generalized Maximum Entropy (PMP-GME). The required information was collected using the questionnaires as well as the statistics of concerned organizations. The study results showed that although the policy of reducing the water extraction could balance the water extraction and reduce energy consumption by up to 25 percent, it would reduce the production of important crops such as wheat and increase social costs (by 20-43 percent) and particularly, reduce farm incomes and increase imports; in addition, the cost of each cubic meter of saved water would be about 4540 to 6360 IR rials; and replacing old systems by new ones at the potential level without increasing the area under cultivation would reduce the reservoir deficits by 94 percent. Although the closure of unauthorized wells is a legal requirement, its implementation alone cannot create balance in the water extraction. In order to achieve the desired result, it is also necessary to limit the licenses of authorized wells gradually. In addition, bank loans and advisory services will help the farmers to increase their irrigation efficiency. The policy of reducing the water extraction will also prevent the farmers to add area under cultivation by using water saved arising from increased irrigation efficiency.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Economics and Development
Volume 28, Issue 2 - Serial Number 110
September 2020
Pages 227-259

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