TEHRAN - The project commissioner of extraterritorial agriculture at Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture called on Iranian real and legal entities living in other countries to invest in extraterritorial cultivation.

Identifying agricultural talents, obtaining comprehensive legal information, international trade, providing the possibility of using databanks, providing proper incentive plans to support Iranians who are willing to carry out extraterritorial agriculture, and strengthening direct contact with Iranians living abroad will help boost extraterritorial agriculture and sustainable food security, Reza Fotouhi said, ISNA reported.

Receiving Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the development of the agricultural sector is the main advantage of carrying out foreign investment in the field of agriculture for the host countries which will increase the production of food products, reduce poverty, and transfer of technical know-how and experience to these countries, the adviser to the minister of agriculture stated.

Back in April, Fotouhi said, the ministry targeted two million hectares of extraterritorial cultivation in the 7th National Development Plan (2023-2027) to ensure food security.

“According to the seventh development plan, this year, nearly 400,000 hectares of extra-territorial cultivation should be carried out in the target countries to supply the country's strategic needs for agricultural products,” the official said.

Iraq, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, African countries, and Latin America are the target countries for extraterritorial cultivation, according to Fotouhi.

“Considering the limited water and soil resources in the country, climate change, and population increase, one of the most important priorities in the agricultural sector is investing in extraterritorial agriculture,” the official said.

Back in January, the Iranian Agricultural Ministry announced that Africa has been set as the first option for extraterritorial cultivation in its ongoing programs.

As one of the major policies of the current government administration, the Islamic Republic has been following new strategies to expand cooperation with Africa, and agriculture has been the main focus of such cooperation.

In line with the mentioned strategies, the first meeting of the Iran-Tanzania Joint Economic Committee is going to be held shortly, and to prepare for the mentioned meeting, the Iranian Agriculture Ministry hosted a gathering to discuss possible agreements and memorandums that could be reached between the two sides in the upcoming committee meeting.

Tanzania is considered one of the most important countries in East Africa and Iran is taking new measures to expand economic ties with this country.

EF/