TEHRAN,Iran ,May.27
Trend:
Expanding agricultural production in Iran's West Azerbaijan Province is the main target in this sector, the Governor of West Azerbaijan Province Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari told Trend.
"Improving agricultural resources, increase of self-reliance, secure investments and try to reduce costs are the target plans for the province," he said.
Other plans include development of greenhouses, using new irrigation techniques, increasing production from modified seeds, plants, using less water, developing livestock farms, boosting milk production and meat, he said.
He also reminded that hot weather cause plenty of damage to Lake Urmia, along with irrational use of water resources and lack of proper management.
Among other obstacles to developing agriculture sector in the province, Shahriari named weak processing industry and lack of marketing of agricultural products.
"Agriculture, tourism , services and industrial sector in the province have suffered damage worth $640 million, thanks to the spread of COVID-19," he added.
"Despite problems and sanctions, necessary precautions were made and we have confronted the virus properly," he said.
"According to the World Health Organization Iran had a successful experience in combating the coronavirus, despite the negative foreign media propaganda," he added.