Evaluation and Comparison of Water Footprint in Industry and Agriculture (Case Study: South Khorasan Province)

In this study, we examine and evaluate the amount of virtual water and water footprint in agriculture of south Khorasan province. Furthermore, results that obtained by water consumer industry in this province was compared together. in southern Khorasan province, with an average annual rainfall of 98 mm, Average annual production of over 490 thousand tons of agricultural products, overdraft more than 170 million cubic from groundwater. In this study, the average of virtual water for major agricultural products in South Khorasan province is about 2900 cubic meters per ton of product, which is estimated at 21 cubic meters per ton for the province's water industry. As a result, rice imported about 341 million cubic meters of water in virtual form due to agricultural product trade in 2011 to 2015. During the study period, the province has always been the virtual exporter, with the volume of virtual water exported from agricultural products increased from 412 to 533 million cubic meters, which is the highest share of cotton exports, saffron and barberry, respectively. The average total volume of water footprint in the agricultural sector of the province during the studied years is 510 million cubic meters, which is estimated at 700 cubic meters per person per year.