Food Self-Sufficiency and Water Resources: A Return to Iran's Future Challenges

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Geography, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

The increase in population, combined with climate change, has significant implications for water and food in Iran. Given the intensification of these issues, concerns about the future are heightened. It is crucial to reconsider the logic and practices of governance and policymaking in the country with a forward-looking perspective, making this a serious demand and a vital necessity. The average annual consumption in Iran is about 96 billion cubic meters of water, which is about 8% more than the total incoming water resources of Iran (89 billion cubic meters). Hence, a big gap has emerged between water needs and sustainable water, which can lead the country to a social and environmental crisis affecting the lives of future generations. In this research, by using documentary data and their qualitative, empirical analysis, first the available water and the country's water needs were studied in relation to food needs. Then, possible solutions to deal with the water crisis were evaluated. The result showed that in addition to the known water limitations, land resources also create significant obstacles for sustainable food production for Iran's growing population; modernization the irrigation system, using the greenhouse system, and building more dams cannot solve the country's water crisis in a sustainable and cost-effective way; As a result, hoping for self-sufficiency in the long term will not have a favorable perspective, instead, policymakers should make their main goal to ensure the food security of the country, which can be done through optimally exploiting water and soil resources, strengthening other sectors of the economy and the possibility of importing Water-intensive goods and the production of these goods in water-rich areas of the world through joint ventures.

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Green Development Management Studies
Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 6
October 2024
Pages 43-57

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