News in brief: FAO and the Iranian government are working together to enhance agricultural productivity in dryland areas. The partnership will focus on conservation agriculture, research and development, and the adoption of adaptive machinery.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is looking at ways to enhance agricultural productivity in dryland areas as it revealed during an ongoing conference in Tehran. It is in discussion with the government of Iran to make it a collaborative effort.
FAOâs acting representative to Iran, Yubak Dhoj GC, said that the organisation and Iranâs Agronomy Department of the Ministry of Agriculture have recorded diverse and comprehensive results when they worked together in the past.
From capacity building to policy development as well as livestock management and fisheries development, both parties have collaborated to do good work, the organisation’s envoy said. He further revealed that they have significantly improved sustainable agricultural practices, nutrition, and rural livelihoods in the country while encouraging sustainable agricultural growth and rural development.
Agriculture Officer of the FAO, Bo Zhou, also revealed strategic undertakings of the partnership, which will have objectives like far-reaching impact on the landscape of dryland agriculture.
The project targets elevating agricultural productivity while safeguarding sustainability and fortifying food security. Identifying the most effective way to realise the objective remains a challenge.
However, Zhou argues that conservation agriculture is imperative as a solution to the challenge, along with cooperation with research institutes.
The FAO defines conservation agriculture as a kind of intensive farming system with emphasis on agricultural productivity while inculcating sustainability and resilience practices.
Iran’s agricultural sector could also get much-needed research and development (R&D) improvement as the partnership may lead to creating innovation centers in different provinces. Recall that just recently, India was seeking to partner with the United States for research into solutions to climate change impact on its agriculture.
Additionally, Bo Zhou called for adoption of adaptive machinery designed for conservation agriculture. He said that government officials, extension staff, farmers and private sector entities will benefit from the approach. They will receive sufficiently education on the principles and advantages of conservation agriculture.
