Measurement and Analysis of Virtual Water Trade Balance in Agriculture Sector of Zanjan Province

Due to worsening water shortage in various areas, virtual water trade in planning and policy, agribusiness, it is important. By calculating the virtual water content can be adjusted and developing a suitable framework for long-term strategies of water and agriculture sector. This study uses the basic technical approach to determining the amount of virtual water consumption and related indices for the main agricultural products of Zanjan province in 2013. The results showed that agricultural exports (Crop) of Zanjan province in 2013, led to a volume of 26.53 million cubic meters of virtual water export. Also 95% of virtual water export of horticultural products and 5% owned by agronomy. In addition, the intensity of water use in agriculture Zanjan province is estimated 24 percent of the renewable water resources. it is necessary that the agricultural sector in the province, in terms of finding comparative advantage in the production of different agricultural products to be used in such a way that the lowest pressure on groundwater resources, take action.