Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Saffron Institute;University of Torbat Heydarieh, Torbat Heydarieh, Iran
2 2. Professor of Water Science and Engineering Department of Birjand University and President of Torbat Heydarieh University
3 3. Assistant Professor of the Economics Department of Ahl al-Bayt International University (AS). Tehran. Iran
Abstract
Each product in the production chain has a specific temporal and spatial process. This chain has a local to global scope in which water is consumed and disappears. In the meantime, saffron is one of the most important products of the agricultural sector of Iran in arid and semi-arid regions, which is of great importance for earning foreign exchange in order to realize development programs aimed at increasing non-oil exports, and calculating the rial value of its water consumption in the production chain is important. In this study, the water footprint in saffron production and the comparison of the cost price of saffron based on the amounts of green, blue and gray water in three important production areas, including Rukh Plain of Torbat Heydariyeh County R1, Zaveh Plain R2 and Central Plain of Torbat Heydariyeh R3, were calculated based on field data. The results showed that the amount of blue water in areas R1, R2 and R3 was 74, 79.5 and 83 percent of the total water consumed, respectively. Also, the economic value of water consumed per kilogram of saffron in regions R1, R2 and R3 was found to be $69, $158 and $107 respectively. Based on this, it is inferred that climatic conditions, irrigation management and the availability of water resources required for timely irrigation have reduced water consumption and consequently reduced the rial value of water consumed per kilogram of product.
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