The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) has awarded its ‘Aziz- ul- Haq Rural Development Medal 2024’ to the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ministry of Agriculture.

According to Mehr News Agency, during the 39th technical committee meeting of CIRDAP held in Melaka, Malaysia, the medal was presented in recognition of the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts in rural-based agricultural development.

The medal was received by the representative of the President of the Institute for Research in Planning, Agricultural Economics, and Rural Development, who is a member of CIRDAP's technical committee and executive council.

Aziz- ul- Haq, the founder of the Center for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), passed away in September 2002. He was a thinker, philosopher, and mentor to many, as well as a skilled planner, manager, organizer, and policymaker. He organized the people of Komila village in Bangladesh (the current headquarters of CIRDAP) to adopt innovative projects to increase crop yields and incomes. Through principles of self-management and self-reliance via rural cooperatives, he helped to promote a self-help movement. He also played a significant role in establishing the Center for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in Comilla, Bangladesh.