Isfahan – The Iranian minister of agriculture announced plans to position Iran as a leading regional food hub, underscoring the country’s determination to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural production.

 

Gholamreza Nouri’s remarks came during a visit to Isfahan Province on Thursday, where he met with economic stakeholders, researchers, and representatives from knowledge-based companies.

 

Highlighting the country's current 20% dependency on imported agricultural goods, he described this reliance as a “source of hardship” for domestic producers.

 

The minsiter stressed the urgent need to strengthen local production, citing constitutional mandates and the directives of the Supreme Leader as the foundation for Iran’s agricultural self-reliance policy.

 

“We are determined to elevate our food security to a desirable level and to define Iran as a regional food hub,” Nouri said. “Our goal is not only to safeguard our own food supply, but also to support food security in neighboring, friendly, and Muslim countries.”

 

Nouri pointed to Iran’s strategic geopolitical position as a unique opportunity to provide food security beyond its borders.

 

“This goal will be achieved not only through domestic production, but also through imports, re-exports, and value-added processing. We aim to serve both our own people and our regional partners,” he said.

 

Addressing the country’s growing water crisis, particularly in provinces like Isfahan, the minister acknowledged the challenging state of Iran’s water and soil resources. He emphasized the crucial role of innovation, advanced technology, and collaboration with knowledge-based companies to sustain and enhance agricultural productivity under current conditions.

 

Nouri also highlighted the ministry’s programs to improve water-use efficiency in agriculture. He expressed optimism that leveraging the expertise of local innovators and startups would yield sustainable, science-based solutions for water resource management.