TEHRAN – Vice President of Women and Family Affairs at Zahra Behrouz-Azar said strengthening the power of rural communities is a prerequisite for the country’s economic and cultural development.
Referring to the differences in the concepts of villages and communities, officials said, “Economic activities in rural areas include agriculture, animal care, crafts and natural resources.
However, communities have a broader concept, including a wider group of people, not just in rural areas, but also in urban areas, nomads, and even digital communities. Communities rely on sharing social interactions, traditions, beliefs and relationships. ”
Authorities made their remarks on video conferences, dealing with the event “empowering universities, social responsibility and local communities,” Mehr News Agency reported.
In villages, the development of agricultural infrastructure, animal care, health and education are fundamental needs, and issues such as cultural maintenance, fostering social interactions, and strengthening support networks are important in local communities.
Referring to the fact that only 30% of the country’s population lives in villages, Behrouz-Azar said that the withdrawal of rural areas loses a significant proportion of cultural heritage, art, language and lifestyle.
Officials leverage knowledge and modern technology in universities and education centers to address current challenges in rural communities, increase productivity, improve the quality of life of farmers, especially women farmers, and empower them. Rural communities to play a role.
Rural Development
Villagers and nomadic people play important roles in Iran’s political, economic and social development. Therefore, October 7 was declared in 2013 as the National Day of Villages and Nomads.
Despite their small population, they have made a significant contribution to the overall national development.
The oil, industry and services sectors hold a significant share of the national economy, but rural and nomadic economies are considered as the nation’s inexhaustible sources compared to the exhausting natural resources.
They live far from pollution and current urban issues and are less dependent on oil resources, and play an important role in sustainable development.
Villagers and nomads lead the way in providing food, food security and healthy food production.
They play a major role in the tourism and craft industry, and are the source of many cultures and traditions in the country that play an important role in ensuring the security of the country, especially at borders and remote locations.
Approximately 25% of the country’s population lives in villages and produces about 70% of the food in the domestic market.
Currently, over 90% of agricultural products and foods are produced in villages. Approximately 25% of the country’s meat products and 35% of the handicrafts, as well as the majority of organic dairy products, including vegetable oils, milk, curds and other ingredients, are produced by nomadic people.
In fact, rural economies are not limited to agriculture. This includes a variety of industries such as handicrafts, creative industries, clothing, processing industries, food, medicinal plants, carpentry, furniture, tourism, ecotourism, fishing, carpets, rugs, dried fruits, and more. .
Majlis (Iranian Parliament) has approved a total of 31 trillion rials (approximately $35 million) for rural development in the Iranian calendar year (March 2023) budget bill in 1401 (March 2023-March 2023) .
By allocating this budget, the overall credit for the comprehensive development plan will reach Housing Foundation Head Akbar Nikzad in June 2022.
The comprehensive development plan aims to develop rural areas in line with cultural, economic and social conditions, and to improve housing provision and environmental services for rural residents.
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