Video- Islamic Iran inaugurates 32 research projects in agriculture

Islamic Iran has inaugurated 32 research projects in the strategic field of food and agriculture with some major results. According to the minister of agriculture, some of these projects took 25 years to bear fruit.

Also addressing the inauguration ceremony, which took place in the city of Karaj, Alborz Province, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the volume of production and exports will increase because farmers are applying mechanized agriculture and irrigation methods. But he also warned that the biggest challenge for the sector has to be water shortage.

Untouched by Western sanctions and restrictions, Iran says it expects to earn this year at least $4.5 billion dollars through export of agricultural products.

Iran exported agricultural products to the tune of 3.8 billion dollars in 2010. The country became self-sufficient in irrigation and agricultural machinery in 2008.