INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN- As stated by the head of Agriculture Department of Markazi province, in the center of Iran, 72,000 hectares of farmlands are
equipped with the modern irrigations systems in this province.Saying that establishment of modern irrigation systems in the province is in
line with the optimal water consumption, Ali Safari also stated that these systems can be established in 170,000 hectares of farmlands in
agriculture projects is the priority of his ministry in the current Iranian calendar year, and expanding the modern irrigation network
across the country is of significant importance in this regard.The deputy agriculture minister noted that the project for implementing
irrigation networks in the west and northwest of the country is about 70 percent completed and the ministry is pursuing to get the necessary
funding for the remaining 30 percent.The official expressed hope that considering the budget allocation for the provinces at the beginning
of the current Iranian year, the ministry would be able to develop the project in terms of both quantity and quality.The purpose of
implementing the plan of modern irrigation systems is to increase the productivity and sustainability of water and soil resources in the
Ministry is also taking the necessary measures for supporting the domestic manufacturing of equipment used in these systems, he added.Back
in September 2021, Abbasi had said that 95 percent of the equipment used in such systems is manufactured inside the country.The official
said the ministry has comprehensive plans for indigenizing the knowledge for the production of the other five percent as well.He pointed to
improvement of modern irrigation systems as one of the main strategies of Agriculture Ministry and said: "We believe that along with the
quantitative development of new irrigation systems, quality improvement should also take place to improve productivity and ensure food
companies active in the field of production and implementation of new irrigation systems as one of the programs that his ministry is
pursuing in order to improve the quality and optimal use of these systems.Referring to the activity of 2,400 private companies in the
