Iran launches agricultural vocational schools for rural
girls

Iran has established seven agricultural vocational schools
for rural girls, the head of Iran's Agricultural Research, Education and
Extension Organization (AREEO) said.

“Last year, we launched seven
agricultural vocational schools for rural girls,” Seyed Mojtaba Khayyam Nekouei
said in recent conference in Tehran on the occasion of the International Day of
Rural Women.

He further highlighted the important role that rural and
nomadic women play in Iran's food security and economy, noting that these women
are responsible for a significant portion of our agricultural production, as
well as raising children and maintaining their households.

“AREEO is committed to ensuring food
security in Iran, and women can play a major role in achieving this goal,” the
deputy minister said.

Women, as well as men, in villages and rural areas, have a
great contribution to all-out national development.

They carry out the bulk of domestic work within families and
households in villages and rural areas.

Apart from their role in the stability of the family, they
are known to play a key role in agriculture accounting for a substantial
proportion of the agricultural labor force.

The rural women also make significant contributions to food
security and nutrition, land and natural resource management, and daily tasks.

The women of the villages with their different capabilities
protect the native identities of communities, they are sources of many cultures
and traditions.

To recognize and remind the world of the rural women’s
importance in enhancing agricultural and rural development, each year on
October 15 the International Day of Rural Women is celebrated worldwide.

It is purposely held the day before World Food Day, to honor
the role played by rural women in food production and security.

In Iran, the day is also celebrated annually by holding
conferences, organizing competitions, honoring leading rural women, displaying their
products, etc.