Groundwater depletion threatens pistachio farms in Iran and California
Farmers in Iran’s Rafsanjan region and California’s Central Valley face severe land subsidence as over-pumping of groundwater dries up pistachio orchards.
Armin, a pistachio farmer in Rafsanjan, describes hand-width fissures that have appeared across his orchard as groundwater levels fall, forcing wells to be drilled to depths of 300 metres compared with 20 metres a decade ago. In California’s Central Valley, growers such as Joe Coelho observe comparable subsidence, with some areas sinking up to 20 centimetres a year due to groundwater extraction exceeding natural recharge.
The pistachio variety dominant in both regions, Kerman, originated from Iran and now underpins California’s leading production. Researchers in Iran warn that collapsed aquifers cannot hold previous water volumes, while California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act seeks to balance pumping with recharge, though large parts of the valley continue to sink. Both sides face the challenge of adapting irrigation practices and policy responses to sustain the crop that supports local economies.
Why it matters
The story highlights how unsustainable water use endangers a key global food crop and the livelihoods dependent on it.
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