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Iran Signs MOU with CYRDAP on Rural and Agricultural Development
Iran Signs MOU with CYRDAP on Rural and Agricultural Development
Hossein Shirzad, the deputy of the agriculture minister and
chairman of the board of Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran
(CORC), in a kick-off meeting with Tevita Taginavulau, the director-general of
Center on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CYRDAP), said
CORC is ready and willing to cooperate with CYRDAP in the field of rural and
agricultural development.
Briefing the capacities and infrastructural facilities of
rural and agricultural cooperatives, Shirzad implied since cooperatives are
deeply rooted in the very nature of the Iranian culture, rural and agricultural
affairs have been handling by cooperative enterprises over the centuries. Due
to the efficient performance of the cooperative, it could be claimed that they
are capable enough to reproduce social capital.
"Rural and agricultural cooperatives are the last ring of the state
administrative chain that provides service to small scale farmers at the most
remote villages. Presently, about 40% of fertilizers and 30% of pesticides are
distributed among farmers by cooperatives nationwide. Providing microcredit and
marketing assistance to the members are among the cooperative responsibilities
toward the Iranian agricultural community that CORC is reinforcing them through
adopting appropriate policies, supporting and supervising the rural and
agricultural cooperatives.", the official said.
Confirming that using modern technologies including IoT(Internet for Things )
is an integral part of CORC's policies to support agro-cooperatives, Shirzad
asserted that we are going to expand using new know-how through development of
agro-startups and It- based transaction system for agro-crops.
"Iran's Rural and agricultural cooperatives are in the transition phase.
Adopting a market-oriented approach necessitate to enhance international ties
to access the emerging markets. Consequently, the mutual collaboration between
CORC and CYRDAP would not only aids two parties to achieve grassroots
empowerment but also boosts sharing knowledge and experience among different
cooperatives, especially among member countries"
Tevita Taginavulau, also welcomed the suggestion of the official. The two
parties are going to provide a draft of MOU to be signed between two
organizations on holding training courses, participation in the CYRADP training
courses and implanting the pilot project for improvement of the rural
livelihood.
Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) is a regional,
intergovernmental and autonomous organization. It was established on 6 July
1979 at the initiative of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations with support from several
other UN bodies and donors. The Centre came into being to meet the felt needs
of the developing countries at that time as an institution for promoting
integrated rural development in the region.
From the original six members, CIRDAP has now grown up as a Centre of 15 member
countries. The member-countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh (Host State), Fiji,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao, PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Operating through designated contact ministries and link institutions in member
countries, CIRDAP promotes regional cooperation. It plays a supplementary and
reinforcing role in supporting and furthering the effectiveness of integrated
rural development programs in Asia and the Pacific.
