Study on Ecological Water Footprint and indicators of virtual water in Agricultural Section of Kerman Province

Shortage of water resources and rainfall is an undeniable reality in Kerman province. Total water use within a single country is not a proper measure for the actual harvest from the world''s water resources. Water ecological footprint is an index to determine the actual amount of water consumption. Therefore، analyzing water ecological footprint and indices of strategic products virtual water are useful for optimal planning and programming of water resources. Thus، in the present study، ecological footprint of water in strategic agricultural products of Kerman province (pistachio and date) was calculated to investigate the ability of the region to meet the water requirements for domestic production. In this study، Hoekstra & Hung (2002) and Hoekstra et. al (2009) methods were used for calculations. Water ecological footprint index of the province in agriculture sector is estimated to be 5/56 billion cubic meters، which is 2097/2 cubic meters for each person yearly. Kerman province exports virtual water and has low dependence on external water resources. Water deficit index or intensity of water use in agriculture sector of the province is estimated to be 123/3 percent of all renewable water resources of the province. According to the definition of UN commission on sustainable development، once the volume of water used in each country is more than 40 percent of total annual renewable water resources، then the country in considered low water. Therefore، Kerman province is low water and reducing the pressure on domestic water resources of the province may require using more virtual water trade strategy in importing products with a high water requirement.