Financial Tribune - A conference was held last week at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) in Mashhad to discuss the root causes of rising water tensions, consequences and strategies to address the thorny problem.

ICCIMA says to address the chronic water problems policymakers should not only focus on the issue of virtual water and water resources and economics � that address the financial dimensions of water management� but also propose workable and improved farming methods, Tehran-based Persian-language economic newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad reported.

Addressing the conference, Gholam Hossein Shafei, the ICCIMA chief said, "Water scarcity is largely a product of poor management of [underground] water resources and imprudent consumption.�