Tehran – Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref urged reforms to cropping patterns, higher productivity, improved product quality, and agricultural output geared toward regional export markets.

 

Highlighting the government’s regional approach to production, particularly in agriculture, Aref said Iran’s free trade agreement with member states of the Eurasian Economic Union presents a significant opportunity to expand agricultural exports.

 

He noted, however, that capitalizing on this opportunity will require boosting productivity and enhancing the quality of domestically produced goods.

 

Emphasizing the role of technology, Aref said the sector must adopt and localize the latest innovations.

 

He added that Iran’s scientific capacity and young workforce position the country to develop the technologies needed for modern agriculture. In this context, he stressed that reforming cropping patterns must proceed through cooperation with, and the informed consent of, farmers.