TEHRAN – Iran will inaugurate 3,294 agriculture projects across multiple subsectors during the Ten-Day Dawn anniversary period, a senior official at the Agriculture Ministry said.

Fatemeh Khamseh, director general for provincial coordination at the Ministry of Agriculture, said the projects span 14 subsectors and involve investment of more than 350 trillion rials ($700 million), according to IRNA.

The projects are expected to create close to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide, she said.

Khamseh said Sistan-Baluchestan province accounted for the largest share of investment at about 35 trillion rials ($70 million), followed by Alborz with 25 trillion rials ($50 million) and Zanjan with 18 trillion rials ($36 million). Funding has been provided through farmers’ own resources, national and provincial budgets, and bank facilities.

She said the agro-processing and complementary industries subsector received the largest allocation at 125 trillion rials ($250 million), followed by livestock and poultry with 87 trillion rials ($174 million) and horticulture with 62 trillion rials ($124 million).

Projects range from small-scale home-based businesses to large schemes exceeding 10 trillion rials (about $20 million) in investment, Khamseh said, adding that the focus is on rural development, job creation and improving water, soil and overall productivity to strengthen food security.

She said the agriculture minister will attend project inaugurations in two provinces as the government’s representative, while deputy ministers and heads of affiliated agencies will visit other provinces to oversee launches and meet farmers.

EF/MA