Water, Soil and Drought Management toward Maintaining Food Security in the

Islamic Republic of Iran

A. GhaffariDryland Agricultural Research Institute (DARI), Iran

الرالر‌‌الرحمنالرحمن‌‌اللهالله‌‌بسمبسمحيمحيم

International‌Conference‌on‌Policies‌for‌Water‌and‌Food‌Security‌

in‌Dry‌Areas,‌24-‌26‌June,‌Cairo,‌Egypt‌

Total land area is 164.8 mil. ha. About 18.5 mil. ha. are used

for agriculture: ‌‌‌‌‌6‌mil.‌ha.‌(irrigated):‌32.4% ‌‌‌‌‌6‌mil‌.‌ha.‌(rainfed)‌:‌32.4% ‌‌‌‌‌4.5‌mil.‌ha.‌(fallow)‌:‌24.4% ‌‌‌‌‌2‌mil.‌ha.‌(hort.‌crops):‌10.8%

‌Wheat and Barley: the two major crops

Average Wheat Growing areas: 6.7‌mil.‌ha Irrigated wheat: 2.7 mil. ha Rainfed wheat: 4.0 mil. ha

Introduction

• Iran is generally known of arid and semi-arid climate (94.1% based on UNESCO Approach) except for Caspian Sea region.

• The average precipitation of the country (247 mm) is about half of Asia (480 mm) and one third of the world (850 mm).

Climate

Agro-Climatic Zoning

Rainfed Land area Mean P/PET = 0.05 - 0.65

29

2423

118 2

Distribution (%) of country area by annual rainfall

rates

<150 mm150-250 mm250-350 mm

Ghaffari et al., 2004

Precipitation

75% off Growing Season

25% in Growing Season

Seasonal Distribution of Rainfall

General information on water resources

Total water potential425 Mm3

Border water

12 Mm3

Rainfall

413 Mm3

Evaporation

295 Mm3

Surface water

105 Mm3

Infiltration

25 Mm3

Total available water

130 Mm3

Water used in different sectors

Sectors Consumption

(×109 m3 )

Consumption

(%)

By

2020

(×109 m3)

By

2020

(%)

Agriculture 85.2 92.1 99.7 85.3

Urban and industry

6.2 6.7 8.7 7.4

Environment - - 6.3 5.4

Miscellaneous 1.1 1.2 2.3 1.9

Total 92.5 100 117.0 100

Overall irrigation efficiency is 38% which is lower than the world’s average irrigation efficiency but, water productivity is roughly 1.25 kg.m3 which is good.

Structure of Water in Iran The two Ministries of Energy and Agriculture are currently The two Ministries of Energy and Agriculture are currently

water administrators in Iranwater administrators in Iran There are several water relevant research institutes (e.g. There are several water relevant research institutes (e.g.

AERI , SWRI in Ministry of Agriculture or TAMAB in Ministry AERI , SWRI in Ministry of Agriculture or TAMAB in Ministry of Energy), research centers, water departments in the of Energy), research centers, water departments in the Universities, and Consultant Engineers Companies (private Universities, and Consultant Engineers Companies (private sector) (e.g. Mahab-e Ghods) also have an important role in sector) (e.g. Mahab-e Ghods) also have an important role in this regard.this regard.

A number of duties of Ministry of Agriculture on soil and water A number of duties of Ministry of Agriculture on soil and water issues are:issues are: Integrated study of basins (watersheds)Integrated study of basins (watersheds) Land consolidation, on-farm improvements, and Land consolidation, on-farm improvements, and

infrastructure activities in farms and orchards for efficient infrastructure activities in farms and orchards for efficient use of agricultural inputs, especially wateruse of agricultural inputs, especially water

Management of water delivery in tertiary and lower order Management of water delivery in tertiary and lower order irrigation canals and their O&M activitiesirrigation canals and their O&M activities

Study and execute small scale water supply development Study and execute small scale water supply development projects (following permission of Ministry of Energy)projects (following permission of Ministry of Energy)

For optimum use of water allocated to the farmers, the following policies are considered:

• Control of water resources and volumetric allocation of water to the farms.

• Based on the established law, water charge of the regulated surface water is between 1-3% of value of the cultivated crops

• water pumping from groundwater resources must be in accordance with the crop water requirement and proposed cropping pattern in each region.

• Subsidizing policies for water charging and supervision charging for farmers who their yields are higher than average.

• Termination of water allocation to the farmers who in two successive years consumed water more than permissible level.

• Encouraging policies for the farmers who use less water and maintain their production in reasonable level using proper management practices.

Attaining wheat self sufficiency in the context of securing food security

at national level

Case study

Importance of wheat Wheat is the major crop in the country, where it is grown

on 6.7 million hectares. Irrigated wheat covers one-third of the total wheat area but accounts for more than two-thirds of the total wheat production.

Iran has attained self-sufficiency in wheat production for the first time since past 40 years during the 2003-2004. This testifies the successful adoption of effective soil and crop management practices combined with improved cultivars for increasing the welfare of rural communities in dry areas of Iran through the sustainable use of land and water resources. The participation of farmers, researchers, and extension workers in the testing, demonstration and dissemination of improved technologies has led to better awareness of the technology and to its adoption by a large number of farmers.

Reasons for attaining self sufficiency

Selecting right strategies by:

1- Preparing road map through contributing all involved relevant policy makers, experts and researchers

2- Integrated agronomy, crop breeding and policies

3- Releasing of high yielding varieties

4-Considering of Water Use efficiency & Water productivity

5- Pressured irrigation systems.

6- Drought tolerance varieties

7- Adoption of Conservation Agriculture

8- Guaranteed price for wheat market

Wheat cultivated areas (1980-2011)

Wheat cultivation area:1980-2000: 2.2 Mha Irrigated & 3.8 Mha Rainfed2000-2011: 300,000 and 200,000 ha increased in rainfed and irrigated cultivation areas, respectively.

Wheat yields (kg ha-1) (1980-2011)

Average Grain Yield:1980-1990: 2000 and 670 Kg/ha for irrigated and rainfed wheat, respectively.1990-2000: 2750 and 830 Kg/ha for irrigated and rainfed wheat, respectively.2000-2011: 3650 and 1060 Kg/ha for irrigated and rainfed wheat, respectively.

Wheat production (million tons) (1980-2011)

Average Wheat production:1980-1990: 7 Million tons1990-2000: 10 Million tons2000-2011: 13.5 Million tons

Certified seed supplied (tons) 2004-10Certified seed supplied (tons) 2004-10

Year Irrigated Rainfed Total% of

planned

2004 267962 57493 325455 100

2005 265352 70816 336141 93

2006 313472 96604 410076 97

2007 349695 102476 452171 94

2008 392484 113288 505772 103

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Are

a (1

000*

ha)

Year

Microitionrrig

Sprinkle Irrigation

Development of pressurized irrigation (1990-2010)

•‌The‌existing‌surface‌of‌pressure‌irrigated‌land‌is‌about‌1‌million‌hectares•‌‌The‌annual‌plan‌is‌200‌thousand‌hectares•‌‌Prediction‌of‌1‌million‌hectares‌in‌the‌5th‌development‌plan‌of‌country‌

85%‌of‌the‌costs‌of‌pressurized‌irrigation‌will‌be‌covered‌by‌Government

Based on budget law (2011)

Drought is always a limiting factor

Agronomy is a limiting factor to harvesting the genetic potential of improved cultivars

Cold is limiting factor in Winter & Facultative wheat areas

Yellow rust remains the major disease.

Septoria is growing as a new major diseases in the Caspian and southern regions

Sunn pest is a major pest in all areas .

RWA is becoming a growing problem in cold areas

Common aphid has become a problem in temperate and warm areas

UG99 is a threat

Some weed species are becoming very invasive

Major Limiting Factors

D / H stress, Kermanshah, 2008

D / H stress, Oshnavieh, 2011

Zanjan 2008East Azerbaijan, 2008

Challenges: Drought and T. HeatChallenges: Drought and T. Heat

Challenges: Cold damageChallenges: Cold damage

Challenges: Diseases (Rust)

Top dressed by nitrogen in hope of more rain

Distribution of irrigated wheat grain yields in Iran

1 -Agronomy: Crop management/CA (3 million ha)2 -Physiology: Application of physiology in wheat breeding

programs for drought and heat tolerance. Earliness is desirable.

3 -Durable resistance for wheat rusts, particularly, Yellow Rust.

4 -Development of germplasm resistant to insect pest, e. g. Sunn Pest .

5 -Application of biotechnology particularly Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in wheat breeding programs for diseases/pests resistance as well as heat and drought tolerance

6 -Enhancement of the rate of adoption of new cultivars.7 -Socio-economic studies on the adoption of new cultivars

and recommendation packages .

Research Priorities

Key achievements

Conservation Agriculture

Agronomy in rainfed wheat:Time of sowing, Depth of sowing, Fertilizer in autumn, Rotation, etc.

Phonology

Nitrogen‌in‌autumn No‌Nitrogen‌in‌autumn

Nitrogen‌in‌autumnNitrogen‌in‌spring

Nitrogen Management

Forage‌-‌wheat

Forage-Wheat‌rotationsFallow‌-‌wheat

Wheat-ChickpeaWheat-Wheat (5 years)

Residual management

Forage rotation and tillage systems for increasing wheat production

Minimum conservation tillage

85%‌of‌the‌costs‌of‌conservation‌agriculture‌

equipments‌will‌be‌covered‌‌by‌Government

Prediction‌‌of‌‌3‌million‌hectares‌in‌the‌5th‌development‌plan‌of‌country‌

Based on budget law (2010)

Normal Sowing Date

Late Sowing Date -2009

عمق كاشت نامناسب

Normal and deep planting depth

Weed control (Rotation & chemical)

Field management

Recommended TechnologyRecommended Technology))Grain yield=2.5 t/haGrain yield=2.5 t/ha((

Local practiceLocal practice))Grain yield=0.5 t/haGrain yield=0.5 t/ha((

Bread Wheat Cultivars released 2001-2012

No. Cultivar Year of Release Institute Origin Growth Habit1 Shahryar 2001 SPII Iran W2 Azar2 2001 DARI Iran W3 Koohdasht 2002 DARI CIMMYT S4 Pishtaz 2002 SPII Iran S5 Shiraz 2002 SPII Iran S6 Tous 2002 SPII IWWIP F7 Bam 2006 SPII Iran S8 Neishabour 2006 SPII Iran S9 Sistan 2006 SPII Iran S

10 Arta 2006 SPII Iran S11 Moghan3 2006 SPII Iran S12 Drya 2006 SPII Iran S13 Bahar 2007 SPII ICARDA S14 Pishgam 2008 SPII Iran F15 Sivand 2009 SPII Iran S16 Parsi 2009 SPII Iran S17 Uroum 2009 SPII Iran W18 Arg 2009 SPII Iran F19 Rasad 2009 DARI Iran W20 Morvarids 2009 SPII CIMMYT S23 Homa 2009 DARI Iran W21 Zare 2010 SPII IWWIP F22 Mihan 2010 SPII Iran W24 Aflak 2010 SPII CIMMYT S25 Ohadi 2010 DARI Iran W26 Rijaw 2011 DARI IWWIP F27 Karim 2011 DARI ICARDA S28 Gonbad 2012 SPII Iran S29 Sirvan 2012 SPII CIMMYT S

Durum Wheat Cultivars released 2001-2012

No. Cultivar Year of Release Institute Origin Growth Habit

1 Arya 2003 SPII CIMMYT S

2 Karkheh 2005 SPII ICARDA S

3 Dena 2007 SPII CIMMYT S

4 Behrang 2009 SPII CIMMYT S

5 Dehdasht 2009 DARI Italy S

6 Saji 2010 DARI ICARDA S

Effects‌of‌phosphorus‌and‌nitrogen‌fertilizer‌application‌on‌wheat‌grain‌yield

Supplemental irrigation study for response of wheat production

Planting irrigation of 50 mm is very effective

0.8 t/ha

2 t/ha

Supplemental irrigation

Effects of Improved Practices at large scale

Province

Wheat Yield (t/ha)

2001/02 (~4,000 ha)

Wheat Yield (t/ha)

2002/03(~85,000 ha)

Wheat Yield (t/ha)

2003/04(~70,000 ha)

TT Farmer

Diff%

TT Farmer

Diff%

TT Farmer

Diff%

E-Azar 1.91 1.19 60 3.22 1.80 79 3.65 2.15 70

Kohgi 2.43 1.35 80 3.18 1.73 83 3.47 1.90 83

Kordes 1.11 0.90 23 1.69 1.33 27 1.95 1.24 57

Lorstan - - - 1.61 1.24 30 2.35 1.45 62

Kerma 2.72 1.87 46 2.00 1.50 33 2.20 1.50 47

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Thank you for your kind attention

Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome