Smart irrigation needs smart policies in Iran | Science
Iran’s agricultural sector is a significant consumer of the country’s water resources, accounting for over 75% of total water use. However, the efficiency of this water usage is alarmingly low, with water productivity measured at just 1.35 kg of crop yield per cubic meter of water. In contrast, global averages can soar between 2.0 to 2.5 kg/m3, indicating a substantial gap in Iran’s agricultural efficiency. In response to this challenge, the Iranian government has set ambitious targets under its National Food Security Plan, aiming to reduce agricultural water consumption by 30 billion cubic meters by the year 2032. A key component of this initiative is the implementation of smart irrigation (SI) technologies, which leverage data analytics and, in some instances, sensor technology to optimize watering practices, minimize waste, and ultimately enhance water productivity.
Smart irrigation technology holds great promise for improving agricultural efficiency in Iran. By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data and predict future environmental conditions, SI can facilitate more precise water management for crops, thus potentially transforming the agricultural landscape. However, despite the theoretical advantages of smart irrigation, the plan faces significant challenges, particularly in the context of Iran’s smallholder farming sector. Many small farmers lack access to the necessary technology and resources to implement these sophisticated systems effectively. As a result, there are concerns that the government’s push for smart irrigation could lead to a misallocation of public resources, failing to yield the desired improvements in water and food security. Instead of enhancing productivity, the initiative risks exacerbating existing disparities within the agricultural community, leaving smallholders further disadvantaged while undermining the overall goals of water conservation and food security in the country.
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Agriculture accounts for more than 75% of Iran’s water use, but water productivity—crop yield per unit of water used—is only 1.35 kg/m3 (1), which can reach more than 2.0 to 2.5 kg/m3 at the global scale (2). To align with its National Food Security Plan, Iran aims to reduce agricultural water consumption by 30 billion m3 by 2032 (3) with smart irrigation (SI) technology that uses data and, in some cases, sensors to adjust watering, reduce waste, and enhance water productivity (4). SI would also use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data, make predictions of future environmental conditions, and better manage the supply for crops. Despite its potential, this plan is likely to fail in Iran’s smallholder farming context, wasting public resources and undermining efforts to improve water and food security.
