Impact of crop pattern modification policies on water resources protection and self-sufficiency of wheat (Case study: Kabudrahang plain)

Reforming the cultivation pattern is a program that the government pursues with the aim of achieving sustainable agricultural development and maintaining food security.Protection of basic production resources,self-sufficiency in the production of basic products and maintaining agricultural employment are among the goals of this program.In this regard,this research was carried out with an emphasis on the protection of water resources in the Kabudrahang plain of Hamadan province.Using linear programming modeling for the studied area, optimal patterns were determined. Water resource protection policies were examined and tested with two scenarios of reducing the use of underground water by 30 and 50% and the scenario of self-sufficiency in wheat production.The results showed that the water resource protection policy reduces the planned efficiency of the cultivation pattern from 2.44% to 24% compared to the current pattern.The area under cultivation of rainfed crops also increased and the area under cultivation of irrigated crops decreased.The area under cultivation of cucumbers and tomatoes increased, but the area under cultivation of fodder and water grains decreased.Self-sufficiency of wheat under the conditions of the existing and optimal cultivation pattern was achieved, but in the scenarios of water resources protection,self-sufficiency was not possible without applying the condition.Under the scenario of self-sufficiency of wheat, the planned efficiency and the use of labor decreased more than the scenarios of protection of water resources.According to the research findings, in order to protect water resources and sustainable exploitation of these resources,it is necessary to control and reduce their exploitation by 30 to 50 percent.