Water Footprint of Fruits in Arid and Semi-arid Regions

Abstract

In this study, water footprint components including green water footprint, blue water, and gray water and its economic value in the production of dates, almonds, and walnuts in Iran were estimated. The results showed that in dates, almonds, and walnuts, the share of blue water was 76.6, 71, and 90%, respectively; The share of green water is 9.6, 19%, the share of gray water is 13.5, 10, and 6%. The economic value of water in these three products is $0.6, $0.2, and $0.9 per cubic meter, respectively. The total volume resulting from the production of these three products in Iran is 13830 MCM per year, of which more than 90% is exported to neighboring countries. Water resources are very limited in Iran, especially in the southern and middle regions with arid and extra-arid climate, which water scarcity is increasing, due to the result of the government’s water policy over the past two decades. During the past decades, self-sufficiency in strategic products such as wheat was the Iran government’s policy. There was no control over productions, developments, or stopping the cultivation, exporting and importing of agricultural products with a view of economic value of water footprint and water footprint. Therefore, this perspective should always be at the top of the planning and planting pattern.