Smart irrigation needs smart policies in Iran | Science
Iran’s agriculture sector is a significant consumer of water, accounting for over 85% of the country’s total water usage. However, the efficiency of this water use is alarmingly low, with water productivity measured at just 1.35 kg of crop yield per cubic meter of water—far below the global average, which can exceed 2.0 to 2.5 kg/m3. In response to this inefficiency and to support its National Food Security Plan, Iran has set an ambitious goal to reduce agricultural water consumption by 30 billion cubic meters by the year 2032. A key strategy to achieve this reduction is the implementation of smart irrigation (SI) technology. This technology utilizes data analytics and, in some cases, sensors to optimize watering schedules, minimize waste, and improve overall water productivity. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play a crucial role in analyzing data, predicting future environmental conditions, and managing water supplies more effectively for crops.
Despite the promising potential of smart irrigation technology, there are significant concerns regarding its implementation in Iran’s smallholder farming context. Many of Iran’s farmers operate on a small scale and often lack the resources or technical expertise necessary to adopt advanced technologies like SI. This raises doubts about the feasibility of the government’s plan, as it may lead to the misallocation of public resources without yielding the desired improvements in water and food security. Critics argue that without addressing the fundamental challenges faced by smallholder farmers, such as limited access to technology and training, the government’s ambitious water reduction targets may remain unachievable. As Iran moves forward with its plans, it will need to consider more inclusive strategies that empower small farmers and ensure that technological advancements translate into real benefits for the agricultural sector and the nation’s overall water management goals.
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Agriculture accounts for more than 85% 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.
