Modernization of Irrigation systems and water conservation with emphasis on rebound effect at farm level in Bakhtegan basin

Iran is facing severe water shortage.Modernization of irrigation systems and improving the efficiency of water use is typically presented as an opportunity for large water saving in the agricultural sector. For this reason, the Iranian government strongly supports the modernization of irrigation systems and has implemented many water-saving irrigation measures with the objective of improving water productivity and reducing agricultural water use. In this regard, some progress has been made. But total agricultural water use did not decline as expected. Thus, agricultural water use in Iran may experience a rebound effect. The hypothesis of a rebound effect as a consequence of water saving investments is taken from the Jevons paradox in energy economics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of the water rebound effect (WRE) at farm level in Bakhtegan basin using corrected land allocation model and direct comparison approach. The results indicated that the magnitude of the agricultural WRE in Bakhtegan basin can fluctuate between 10.1% and 109.38%.