Coping with desertification in Iran through improved water use: lessons and constraints

摘要

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental and social-economic problems in the world today.Iran as a country located in arid and semiarid zone is facing this problem.Intensive developmental activities,population pressure,urbanization,and resource exploitation in last decades together with scarcity of water and adverse natural conditions have accentuated desertification.Improvement in water conservation is crucial for a sustainable agriculture.It is estimated that due to water constraints only about half of the total cultivable area in the country is actually used for agriculture.Increasing crop production per unit of water with the aim of optimum usage of water resources and food security is a major challenge for all stockholders.The government is emphasizing on developing controlled irrigation methods such as pressurized irrigation,green house cultivation,and use of pipes instead of open canals for carrying water for enhancing water use efficiency.This paper discusses efforts being made for combating desertification and achieving sustainable agriculture in Iran.