TEHRAN -- Deputy Head of Agricultural Jihad Ministry for Financial Affairs Ali Akbar Mehrfar said that the agricultural sector with 24 percent of non-oil exports, has 27 percent share of the gross domestic product (GDP), IRNA reported.

Speaking in a seminar on delineating Iran's technical programs with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he added that Iran has about 18 million hectares of agricultural land which could be expanded to 30 million hectares. The area includes forest s, pastures and deserts, he stated.

Mehrfar said Iran has immense potentials due to its varied ecological climate and sunny weather. He said out of 66 items constituting the "world agricultural structure", 44 are produced in Iran.

But, he also cautioned that Iran's annual average of 413 billion cubic meters of rainfall stands at one third of world average adding water waste is rampant in Iran. Managing Director of Agricultural Jihad Ministry's for International and Regional Organizations Majid Dehqan-Shoar said that the aim of such conferences are to cooperate with such organizations as FAO, as well as transfer of technology which "Iran has not been able to have access to."

"To join WTO, Iran has to raise its agricultural product quality," he underlined. Another speaker, FAO representative in Iran Abdulrashid referred to Iran agricultural sector's strong growth in the past two decades "despite, severe drought and war-related problems." Currently, Iran is near self-sufficiency in animal husbandry products, vegetables, fruits, eggs and poultry, "but, it has ways to go in the production of grains and cereal."

He also said that FAO has organized several panel discussions with the assistance of Agricultural Jihad Ministry and non-governmental organizations.

The three-day conference focuses on setting up training workshops and exchange of views and information to formulate and systematize agricultural projects in various sectors.

share of agricultural sector in economy is 27 percent tehran, july 6, irna -- deputy head of agricultural jihad ministry for financial affairs ali akbar mehrfar said here saturday that the agricultural sector with 24 percent of non-oil exports, has 27 percent share of the gross domestic product (gdp).

speaking in a seminar on delineating iran technical programs with the food and agriculture organization (fao), he added that iran has bout 18 million hectares of agricultural land which could be expanded to 30 million hectares. the area includes forests, pastures and deserts, he stated.

mehrfar said iran has immense of potentials due to its varied ecological climate and sunny weather. he said out of 66 items constituting the "world agricultural structure", 44 are produced in iran. but, he also cautioned that iran's annual average of 413 billion cubic meters of rainfall stands at one third of world average adding "water waste is rampant in iran." managing director of agricultural jihad ministry's for international and regional organization majid dehqan-shoar said that the aim of such conferences are to cooperate with such organizations as fao, and transfer of technology which "iran has not been able to have access to."

"to join wto, iran has to raise its agricultural product quality," he underlined. another speaker, fao representative in iran abdulrashid referred to iran agricultural sector's strong growth in the past two decades "despite, severe drought and war-related problems." currently, iran is near self-sufficiency in animal husbandry products, vegetables, fruits, eggs and poultry, "but, it has ways to go in the production of grains and cereal."

he also said that fao has organized several panel discussions with the assistance of agricultural jihad ministry and non-governmental organizations.

the three-day conference focuses on setting-up training workshops and exchange of views and information to formulate and systematize agricultural projects in various sectors.

meanwhile, the english-language paper 'iran daily' in its perspective column last week commented on the issue of 'food security' in the country. it said food security is a function also of social justice which in itself is prioritized over all other considerations in the economic recovery plan. "hence, a paramount duty of the government is to ensure food security for the lot with or without subsidies."

it continued that available figures suggest the government has procured about 83.3 percent of the food needs of the low-income strata of metropolitan areas and close to 88 percent of their rural counterparts, noting this is a clear indication of the dire need for and significance of food subsidies for the low-income bracket. "it must be recalled that fixed-wage earners do not entirely depend on subsidized food and have to buy their needs from the so-called free market."

statistics released by fao suggests that the average index of food security of iranian urban families increased to 96 percent in 1998, marking a 23-percent increase compared to 1985, iran daily underlined.