Virtual Water Trade and Use in Watershed: (Case study: Baraftab-E Hajiabad and Payab- E Rudan watersheds, Hormozgan Province)

Ground water depletion and water shortage are two problems in Hormozgan province which have occurred due to the irregular use and inappropriate management of demand and supply of water in agricultural sector. This research explored the balance of agriculture virtual water trade (imports and exports of virtual water) and its value in two catchments with different climate in north (Baraftab catchment in Hajiabad) and east (Payab-E Roodan catchment) of Hormozgan province. Based on the results, most of the volume of virtual water in northern catchment is related to wheat and Palm fruit with the amounts of 14 and 0.18 million cubic meters, respectively. Most of the volume of virtual water in the eastern catchment of province is related to Palm fruit (0.8 million cubic meters) and citrus (0.6 million cubic meters) and most of the volume of imported virtual water is related to wheat and rice. Also, Baraftab and Payab catchments are the exporter and importer of virtual water, respectively so that the amount of the balance of trade of virtual water in two mentioned catchments are -11.94 and 17.83, respectively. 64% and 67 % of fresh water in two Baraftab and Payab catchments is consumed to produce the agricultural products. The amount of water self-sufficiency index of virtual water is 86% and 81% and the amount of water shortage index is 66% and 69% in Baraftab and Payab catchments, respectively. These results reveal the severe water shortage in these two catchments.