Tehran, Dushanbe to boost cooperation in energy, overseas farming
Iran’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said Tehran and Dushanbe are exploring avenues to develop cooperation in the fields of energy and extraterritorial farming.
Ardakanian held talks with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojidin Aslov on the sidelines of an international water conference in Tajikistan, IRIB reported.
The two sides also exchanged views on ways to enhance mutual cooperation in energy and overseas farming sectors.
The Iranian minister said Tajikistan has good potential in field farming, and the two countries can increase cooperation in the agricultural sector within the framework of joint economic commission.
Aslov, for his part, referred to the commonalities between the two nations and called for enhanced cooperation between the two in the fields of energy and water. He said his country was ready to help Iran with extraterritorial farming in the face of constraints of worsening land and water resources in Iran.
Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Brazil and Ghana have been cited in Iranian media as among the places which Iran was pushing for long-term leasing or ownership of farmlands with higher agribusiness potential.
Iran relies on imports for 90 percent of its requirements for water-intensive products such as wheat and oilseeds. Other waterguzzling crops such as watermelons have a steady army of critics in a country where aquifers are critically overdrafted.