Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 30
By Fatih Karimov – Trend
Iran's total precipitation during the current crop year (started on Sept. 22) stood at 7 millimeters, 68 percent less year on year, the Islamic Republic's energy ministry reported.
The figure also indicates a 42 percent fall compared to the long-term average precipitation (last 47 years) which was 12 millimeters for the period (Sept. 22-Oct. 29).
The total volume of participation from Sept. 22 to Oct. 29 stood at 11.536 billion cubic meters.
The highest rainfall was registered in Caspian Sea catchment with 414.5 millimeters of precipitation, meanwhile the East catchment witnessed the lowest rainfall with 0.3 millimeters of precipitation during the period.
The total rainfall in the Central plateau, Urmia Lake, the Persian Gulf and Qara-Qum catchments was 19.8 mm, 17 mm, 11.7 mm and 2 mm respectively.
Iran's total precipitation during the last crop year (ended Sept. 21) stood at 241 millimeters, 22 percent more year- on-year.
Iran is located in an arid zone and the country faces a serious water shortage crisis.
The country’s total annual water consumption is approximately 93 billion cubic meters, out of which about 92 percent is used in agriculture (86 billion cubic meters), 6.6 percent in municipality (6.18 billion cubic meters), and 1.2 percent in industry (1.12 billion cubic meters), according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Up to 70 percent of water used in the agriculture sector is being wasted, Iranian officials say.
