Iran’s geographical location on dry latitudes, its drastically changing climate, low precipitation levels (a third of global average), drought, high water consumption, diminishing water resources, soil degradation and low agricultural productivity are making it necessary for the country to take agricultural outsourcing more seriously to ensure food security and protect its vulnerable environment, says the manager of Agriculture Ministry’s “Farming Beyond Borders” program.
“In the next [fiscal] year’s budget bill [March 2022-23], the government has given priority to the import of agricultural crops cultivated in foreign countries under the ‘Farming Beyond Borders’ program rather than crops simply imported by traders,” Mohsen Shaterzadeh said.
Agro outsourcing involves the practice of purchasing, renting or leasing by one country of another country’s arable land for the cultivation of agricultural products. These products could be marketed in the active country, or alternatively exported to other destinations by the same country. This process ensures food security and boosts agricultural production.