Tehran - Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture plans to implement modern irrigation systems across 20,000 hectares of farmland by the end of the Iranian calendar year (March 2026), a senior official announced, as the country steps up efforts to improve water efficiency amid ongoing drought conditions.

 

Fariborz Abbasi, director of the modern irrigation systems program at the Ministry’s Water and Soil Department, said the initiative depends on funding allocations and coordination with the national Planning and Budget Organization.

 

“We have proposed the deployment of smart irrigation across approximately 20,000 hectares of farmland this year, provided the necessary financial resources are secured,” he said, according to a ministry statement carried by Tehran Times.

 

He noted that over the past four years, the ministry has worked with certified research institutions and knowledge-based firms to develop and test smart irrigation technologies. More than 100 pilot projects have been implemented across various provinces to evaluate the systems and raise awareness among farmers.

 

“The pilot results indicate that smart irrigation can reduce water consumption by about 20 percent, boost crop yields by 20 to 30 percent, and improve overall efficiency by 40 to 50 percent,” Abbasi said.

He emphasized that scaling up the program nationwide will require substantial financial investment.

 

“We’re fully committed to expanding these technologies, but broad adoption hinges on securing the necessary budgetary support,” he added.