Pezeshkian unveils 2,209 projects to enhance agricultural output
As many as 2,209 projects in the agricultural sector were inaugurated by President Masoud Pezeshkian via video link across the country on Monday night to mark the Agricultural Jihad Week (starting on mid-June).
The projects, covering water and soil management, livestock and poultry, agricultural processing and complementary industries, horticulture, farming and fisheries, were launched with total investment of more than 30 trillion rials ($1.93 billion).
The projects were implemented nationwide, including in the provinces of Khuzestan, Kerman, Isfahan, Khorasan Razavi, Hormozgan, Ardabil and West Azarbaijan, which accounted for the largest number of projects, president.ir reported.
According to a report, 79% of the investment was financed by private sector investors and agricultural sector operators.
Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Qezeljeh said at the inauguration ceremony that the initiatives will provide direct employment for more than 42,000 people and indirect employment for about 30,000 people.
He said that the facilities will play an important role in economic development and increasing production capacity in the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the virtual inauguration ceremony for the agricultural projects, Pezeshkian commemorated Agricultural Jihad Week and stressed the need for synergy among farmers, industrialists, experts and innovators.
"We must, through the cooperation and participation of all those active in this field, chart a new horizon for the country's growth, prosperity, dynamism and development," he said.
Agriculture Week, observed annually in mid-June, marks the anniversary of the founding of the Jihad-e Sazandegi (Construction Jihad) Organization by a decree from the late founder of the Islamic Republic on June 17, 1979. The organization was later merged with the Ministry of Agriculture.