Importance of Hamoon Lake on Rural Development in Sistan Region

The importance of lakes in maintain ing agriculture, job and income creation, prevention of poverty and unemploy ment, and finally to decrease rural emigrat ion has made lake conservation inevitable. The present study , carried out in 2011, has aimed at investigation of devoting still alive Hamoon water to agricu lture sector and its role on the rural population remain ing. Furthermore analy zing immigration trend and population composition of Zabol (a fronter-situated city in southeast of Iran). Using linear (LP) and goal programming (GP) approaches with the aim of pertaining current emp loyment level o f local users of the area "Shib-E-Ab" and minimizing water consumption in shortage months (June, July and May), the optimal culturing pattern is proposed. On the other hand, it analyses the share of other inco me groups of Hamoon lake regional residents (including fish harvesters, bird hunters and livestock farmers) in Hamoon-resulted emp loyment and income. In fact, this research is exp ressing the role of live Hamoon in agricu lture maintenance, job and income creation and keeping of residents. The results suggests the negative effect of drought on keeping of residents and subsequently increasing of emigrants and growth of Afghani's (Afaghana) population. The present culturing pattern is not optimu m, so that its water demand exceeds water supply in majority of months. Therefore, using proposed pattern in addition to maintaining emp loy ment level and water limitat ions can achieve a higher inco me for local residents. Furthermore, living Hamoon may cause maintain ing occupation of other its users (fishermen, harvesters, bird hunters and livestock farmers), at the levels of 18524, 9430 and 1032 households respectively by moving fro m watery Hamoon to dry Hamoon. Finally, some strategies are proposed to improve these regional conditions.