Prioritization in Exporting Agricultural Products Using Virtual Water Concept (Case study: Melon and Watermelon)

Aims In the new sight of the world, water is considered a socio-economic good. Hence, commodity exchanges are important matters among nations. In this regard, local and international trade of virtual water as agricultural crops is an important subject in water resources management. Materials & Methods In this study, the virtual water of two main exported products (watermelon and melon) in Iran were analyzed during 2003-2013. Some indicators, which are used in the water resources management, such as water use intensity and water dependency, were analyzed. Findings By present assessment, during this period, 218.07 MCM of water in the form of virtual water was transferred from the country to outside. By efficiency calculation, it was obtained that irrigated watermelon production had the highest efficiency. Conclusion The results showed that producing these products in Iran was completely hinged on the internal water resources. Additionally, water use intensity in watermelon is evaluated 12 times more than melon and these results warn us to have a more precise plan for aranging the allocation of the lands for different kind of agricultural activities.