The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Iranian government have launched a major project to expand climate-resilient farming. This initiative aims to strengthen national and regional capacities while addressing pressing challenges like drought and water scarcity. Climate-resilient farming will support sustainable crop production, improve nutrition, and enhance water management.
The project spans Iran, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Mongolia, focusing on crops such as quinoa, millets, and soybeans. These crops are known for their nutritional value and drought tolerance. By promoting such crops, the initiative targets both environmental sustainability and food security.
The National Inception Workshop took place in Tehran. Around 40 participants attended, including government officials, private sector representatives, research institutions, civil society organizations, and farmers. FAO representatives from the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the FAO Iran Representation also joined the discussions.
During the workshop, participants formed three product-based stakeholder groups. They reviewed the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and implementation strategy. They also prioritized activities and finalized the country work plan, ensuring alignment with national needs and participant feedback.
Iran faces significant water scarcity due to its arid and semi-arid climate. Agriculture accounts for nearly 80 percent of total water withdrawals. Recurrent droughts, reduced rainfall, and higher temperatures have increasingly strained the country’s agricultural systems. In response, the project emphasizes agronomic innovations, technology transfer, institutional strengthening, and awareness of climate-resilient crops.
In Iran, the initiative will scale up drought-tolerant crops and promote Good Agricultural Practices, Participatory Varietal Selection, and Farmer Field Schools. These measures aim to boost productivity, efficiency, and long-term adoption. Partnerships between farmers, research institutions, and the private sector will also be strengthened to ensure sustainability.
Officials highlighted the broader impact of the project. By diversifying production systems and increasing water efficiency, climate-resilient farming supports Iran’s strategy to adapt agriculture to climate change. Experts emphasized that this approach will safeguard food and nutrition security for future generations.
Looking ahead, the project will continue to build capacity, transfer knowledge, and implement water-efficient practices. Policymakers and farmers will work together to scale up results, ensuring that climate-resilient farming becomes an integral part of Iran’s agricultural landscape.