TEHRAN -- Iran wastes more than $60 billions in water each year, or roughly three times what the nation earns from its oil industry, agriculture officials said in Saturday's press.

The report comes as the Islamic Republic begins to emerge from its worst drought in 30 years, which killed more than 800,000 head of livestock and caused 3.5 billion dollars in damage, according to official estimates, AFP reported.

The ****Aftab-e Yazd**** paper, citing unnamed agriculture experts, said $63 billions of water is wasted annually, with the chief culprit being inefficient irrigation networks.

Recent rains have eased the effects of the country's second straight year of crippling drought but there are still water shortages in some parts of the country.

The drought led Iran to accept international aid for only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.