Effects of Irrigation Water Quotation on Cropping Pattern and Farmer's Gross Margin in Amol Region

In recent decades the increasing population pressures, improved living standards, and increasing demand for environmental quality have urged governments to provide better solutions for efficient water resources management. Since agriculture is the largest consumer of water, providing proper water resource management practices and codification correct policies in this sector is vital. In the present study the economic analysis of the effects of irrigation quota on cropping patterns and gross profit of farmers in Amol County is performed using positive mathematical programming model. The model was developed using data of cropping season of 2013-14 for irrigated lands of the county (Dashtesar, Marandeh, Raeisabad and Oskumahaleh). To achieve the study goals firstly the production function with constant elasticity of substitution and then the Quadratic cost function were included in the Positive Mathematical Programming models. The results illustrated that water rationing policy will lead to reduced acreage of most of the irrigated agricultural products in Amol county. Canola in the Dashtesar, Marandeh, and Raeisabad and clover crop in the Oskumahaleh area have undergone the most decrease compared to other crops. Also the applied water rationing resulted in increase in acreage of products with high profit and low water requirements such as rice and maize crops in all regions with irrigated agriculture.