Tehran – The first International Camel Conference is underway is the central Province of Yazd.

The ceremony opened on Wednesday with Iranian Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza Nouri in attendance. It will warp up on Thursday.

Addressing the event in the morning, the minister suggested that Iran should strive to register camel herding as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) under the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

This prestigious designation would recognize the cultural, environmental, and economic significance of camel herding practices in the region, he added.

The year 2024 has been declared the International Year of the Camel by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. This global recognition underscores the camel's vital role in food security, sustainable livelihoods, and cultural heritage.

Nouri highlighted the immense potential of camels in diverse sectors, including desert tourism, dairy production, and textile manufacturing.

He further emphasized that these initiatives could contribute significantly to sustainable job creation, rural development, and improved livelihoods for communities dependent on camel herding.