The cities of Rafsanjan and Anar are the main centers of pistachio production in the country, and consecutive drought and drought cause the gradual destruction of these orchards.
According to Hamshahri Online, the amount of pistachio orchards in Rafsanjan in Kerman province until June 2009 was more than 120,000 hectares, but after the separation and independence of Anar city from Rafsanjan, these lands reached 86,000 hectares, which affected the pistachio production of this city. . The decrease in Rafsanjan pistachio production did not end with this issue alone, because water shortage and drought, frost and heat have reduced the amount of pistachio production every year.
In an interview with Hamshahri Online, the head of the Iranian Pistachio Association stated: During the last 20 years, 20,000 hectares of the city’s cultivated area have been taken out of the production cycle due to lack of water and drought. Currently, there are more than 80,000 hectares of pistachio orchards in Rafsanjan and 20,000 hectares in the city of Anar, which are productive but face severe water shortages.
Hossein Rezaei said: the water company plans to reduce water extraction by 40% from authorized wells, which has been reduced by 25% so far and has severely damaged the performance of pistachio orchards.
Complaints of pistachio growers
The head of the Iranian Pistachio Association added: “This action of the regional water company of the province has caused gardeners to be very dissatisfied and complaining about this situation.” This decision means that a gardener who has, for example, 10 hectares of land, will leave 4 hectares of gardens and let them dry out and work on another 6 hectares.
He added: “This decision will severely damage the national production and will cause the most important national product of the country to lose its credibility and position in the world.” On the other hand, this action is considered by gardeners as a kind of confiscation of land and interference in personal property.
Author : Ali Khakpash
