Mahmoud Hojjati Agriculture Jahad Minister in a meeting
with the officials of Sistan & Baluchistan Province with the presence of
the Governor_ General of the province stressed the implementation of
biological operation for the control of sand and dust storms in the region.

According FRWO's website, Minister Hojjati said that based
on studies carried out by research institutes, prioritization of areas for
the immidiate implementation of biological operation should be started
promptly. He emphasized that Tamarix is well-adapted with the environment and
climate in the region.

Hojjati added that the issue of plantation in the region
should not be merely tied with the water right issue with
Afghanistan or occurrence of sand and dust storms that should be followed up
separately at international level, and  called for speeding up
the plantation of tolerant and well-adapted species as a priority in the
region.   

Hojjati emphasized that we have to start the plantation
operation with the current resources and do not postpone it to the additional
resources. He called sand and dust storms as the main threat in the region
which is added to hazards including moving sands  due to
cyclic droughts. 

The minister said that the hotspots have been identified
based on the studies done in the recent years, and we have to start mulching
operation through contractors at the soonest with no contract formality.