Tehran – Iran plans to produce 1 to 1.5 million metric tons of high-quality forage annually on 500,000 hectares of rainfed farmland through the use of “green water” — rainfall captured and stored naturally in the soil, according to the head of the country's Dryland Agricultural Research Institute.

 

Mozafar Roostaei said the initiative is designed to address the challenges posed by Iran’s predominantly arid and semi-arid climate and recurring droughts. He described green water-based forage production as a strategic solution for climate adaptation, conservation of groundwater and soil resources, and strengthening the domestic supply of livestock feed.

 

“Producing forage with green water is one of the institute’s key research priorities,” he said. “By dedicating 500,000 hectares of rainfed land to this approach, Iran can reliably produce between 1 and 1.5 million tons of high-quality forage each year.”

 

He said the project would help reduce the country’s reliance on imported feed and generate substantial foreign exchange savings.

 

Roostaei outlined several environmental and agricultural benefits of the initiative, including lower pressure on groundwater reserves, reduced soil erosion, improved soil fertility, enhanced moisture retention and infiltration, and greater ecosystem sustainability.

 

He emphasized that expanding forage production through the use of green water is becoming increasingly important for safeguarding the future of agriculture and enhancing national food security in the face of climate change.

 

Pointing to successful international experiences, particularly in Turkey, where forage producers receive government subsidies covering 75 to 100 percent of eligible costs, Roostaei called for the adoption of proven support mechanisms and greater access to international financing to accelerate implementation of the program.