Maragheh — Iran’s Dryland Agricultural Research Institute has introduced nearly 150 new crop varieties, highlighting the growing role of dryland farming in strengthening the country’s food security.

 

Speaking at the institute’s 32nd annual gathering in Maragheh, Gholamreza Salehi Jouzani, Deputy for Research and Technology at the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), said Iran has approximately 6 million hectares of dryland farmland, making productivity improvements in the sector a national priority.

 

He said a significant share of the crop varieties used in Iranian agriculture has resulted from the institute’s research. The institute has also introduced 11 dryland forage varieties, with around 114,000 hectares currently under dryland forage cultivation.

 

Salehi Jouzani emphasized the need to transform the institute into a data-driven, next-generation research center, making greater use of artificial intelligence, big data, advanced technologies, and modern machinery.

 

He also stressed that climate change must be considered in all agricultural research and called for improved climate and production forecasting to reduce risks and support more effective decision-making.