FAO set to implement four projects in Iran

The Mehr News Agency recently conducted an interview with the FAO representative in Iran, Dr. Abdur Rashid, which follows: 

Q: What are the recent projects of FAO in Iran?

A: FAO has given four projects; one of them is jointly between the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

So this is an idea in which both ministries do joint work and we have given technical assistance on that.

We have given three other projects at pesticides. For example, when various pesticides are used on to vegetables and crops, it could be harmful to the health. So we want to make sure that only one recommended pesticide is used. We want to minimize the use of pesticides which would help the farmers because they spend less money and the daily income will increase and the consumer will be protected.

The doses are not high but there are strict regulations by the importing countries particularly the EU that you have to meet those standards so we are trying to ensure that these standards are met.

Q: What projects has FAO carried out in Iran regarding environmental issues?

A: Environmental studies were done by FAO in Khuzestan and in Uremia and also before the Iraq war we had initiated studies in the border areas concerning what would happen to the environment in case there was an influx of refugees.

We had a FAO expert who came last year and gave us a good report that kilka is a very serious crisis and that the kilka population was going down rapidly and attention was needed by all countries in the region, not only Iran.

So Iran is doing more than its share of the problem, they’re really making an effort but other countries should also help in this; it’s a regional problem which needs a regional solution not only a country’s solution.

Forestry is also very important for the north. North is a very rich region if you look from the agricultural point of view. Other crops and livestock are also important there.

We are involved in everything, all sectors, like the project for the development of the long-term strategies in agriculture involving all the things which are important in the north like livestock and fishes; so this is also part of the project. 

We are constantly sending Iranians all over the world wherever a good thing is being done. It’s not only the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture; we’ve also sent people training from the Ministry of Health.

We’ve sent them training to Spain, Italy, Turkey, etc.

Iranian experts are very good so if you expose them to something better they think of very good things and they come back and do a better job.

And in our training we also like to see the gender balance, because when there are men going, women should also go so that they are equal.

The girls are getting more educated in the society. Because if women are not educated, then the progress will always be hindered, their education is more important sometimes.

Q: What are your projects for women and their role in farming?

A: We have some projects that are only given to women. They are small projects, for example I was in Jihad Bakhtiari where we had given a project to ten young girls for picking up rice roots and they have done a wonderful job, because we gave them money to buy machinery for that. And when I went they wanted to expand it because they are making profit.

We have also given projects on honey beekeeping, the type of activities which those women can do, growing mushrooms, making pickles, poultry. Now we are giving a project on trout production for the women in Hamedan. Those projects are only for women, so that the women would become self-sufficient and have income.

Q: What is your opinion about the production of wheat in Iran and the possibility of Iran becoming self-sufficient in this field?

A: This year Iran is self-sufficient in the field of wheat. It has done a very good job. And this was done by all those involved including the ministry officials and first of all the policymakers. Self-sufficiency needs a lot of strong political wealth, so they have shown the political wealth, and then it needs resources, and they have provided the resources, then it needs the proper utilization of the resources so the end result shows that the resources are properly utilized.

Ministry officials, extension workers, researchers, farmers and the media played an important role in this field and finally the nature has been very kind since there was no drought over the last years.

Q: How can we improve the status of farms in Iran?

A: Mechanization, irrigation progress, and seed are important for this purpose.  We have given a project on seed quality control and there is even a seed quality control institute in Karaj and seed legislation has also been approved by Parliament.

With increased germination ratio, more seed is germinated which leads to more production and Iran is moving in the right direction. 

The combined effect of the efforts made, the resources put in, the hard work of the people, plus good weather will help improve the status of farms in Iran. 

Q: How do you evaluate the future of agriculture in Iran?

A: Iran is rich in resources and is one of the first four countries in the range of agricultural commodities produced. These countries are the U.S. in first position, China in second place, Turkey in the third position and Iran in fourth place.

Iran holds a high position in world ranking in the type of food and vegetables and crops produced because of its good weather and all types of climate in the country. This is a blessing. Good weather is necessary but it’s not enough to give you all the food you need to increase your production.

We should firstly be able to monitor drought very clearly, secondly determine what is required to minimize its impact and thirdly find out what sort of efforts you need in order to help the farmers.

Q: What projects has FAO carried out to resist drought in Iran?  

A: We have used the latest satellite technology to monitor draught. Our objective is to set up a center for drought management which will not only meet the requirements of Iran but also bring in people from the region to train in here. This proposal was endorsed in the last meeting of the region that there should be a center in Iran to meet the requirements of the other countries in the region.

Q: What are your plans for removing deserts in the country?

A: There has been commendable work in Iran for removing deserts, especially in Kashan and Tabriz.

A long process is required for this purpose, from 30 to 50 years and Iran is a good model in this regard. 

There are very low forest-cover lands in Iran. We have organized workshops around the country and efforts should be made to bring back the forests lost. We are working seriously in this field.

 HL/MA

 END

 MNA