Tehran – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian outlined a comprehensive set of directives aimed at modernizing Iran's farming sector, streamlining government spending, and stabilizing food supply chains.

 

In a meeting with agricultural officials on Saturday, the President was briefed on current challenges and initiatives before delivering his address.

 

A central pillar of his address was a mandate for fiscal restraint. President Pezeshkian emphasized the "critical need to reduce operational costs" within large executive bodies like the Agriculture Ministry. He pointed to its extensive subsidiaries and sizable workforce as areas where efficiency must be improved.

 

"Increasing productivity and creating a leaner, more agile administrative structure are key to controlling these operational expenditures," the President said.

 

He further warned that the high operational costs of government agencies significantly contribute to inflation, making their management a top priority.

 

President Pezeshkian detailed a multi-faceted strategy for the ministry, which includes: Technology & Investment: Boosting investment in agricultural technology and adopting modern equipment and innovative solutions to enhance productivity; Supply Chain Management: Implementing simultaneous management of consumption, demand, and supply. He specifically called for optimized oversight of the import process for essential goods to prevent cost inflations from procurement to domestic delivery; Regional Trade: Maximizing the use of existing regional trade capacities to improve economic efficiency; Strategic Relocation: Redirecting the construction of new greenhouse units to southern coastal regions to leverage better water availability and export conditions; Value Addition: Tapping into unused potential in food production and processing industries to increase the value of agricultural exports; Knowledge Adoption: Applying successful international expertise, particularly in the field of desertification;  Research Reform: Revising the policies and performance of agricultural research centers to ensure they are productive and fully utilize their allocated resources; Streamlining Distribution: Overhauling the farm-to-table supply chain to cut out intermediaries, prevent unjustified price increases, ensure fair profits for producers, and protect consumers from exploitation.

 

Concluding his remarks, President Pezeshkian charged the ministry's leaders with the "full implementation of mandated policies and programs," framing it as a primary mission vital to the nation's "elevation, dignity, and pride."