Government signs memoranda for extraterritorial cultivation: Minister
The agriculture minister announced that the government had set a target of approximately one million hectares for extra-territorial cultivation, stating that the ministry has signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with several countries in this regard.
Announcing the above, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh told ISNA that preparatory work to commence overseas cultivation had begun.
Nouri Ghezeljeh stated that the ministry has revised the regulations for overseas cultivation. "We must utilize overseas farming as we import about 20 percent of our required goods and foodstuffs. Therefore, we intend for our producers and economic actors to engage in producing the country's required food materials in suitable countries, transfer a portion of the products to Iran, and sell another portion in those same countries," he said.
He added that the ministry is seriously pursuing "cooperation with 4-5 countries; work has commenced and good groundwork has been laid."
Nouri Ghezeljeh said that during recent visits, the ministry “signed memoranda of understanding and substantial headway has been achieved,” expressing hope that extra-territorial cultivation in such countries will commence imminently.
The minister emphasized that overseas cultivation presents an opportunity to export the technical engineering services.
"This will allow our investors, agricultural graduates, and professional farmers to become active in other countries, transfer technology, bring part of the product back to the country, and sell part of it there," he noted.
"The government's target is approximately one million hectares of overseas cultivation," he said.