Iran’s agricultural sector suffers from over 40 years of underinvestment and mismanagement. Despite contributing 22% of employment and 15% of GDP, it receives only 3% of the country’s investment resources.
Persistent reliance on outdated policies, lack of stable planning, and ineffective regulatory frameworks have led to crises in water management, soil depletion, and ecosystem damage. Unauthorized wells and overuse of water exacerbate the problem, while 20 million tons of agricultural imports still require $14 billion annually, highlighting the failure to develop protective infrastructure. Strategic sectors such as greenhouses, solar energy, watershed management, forests, and rangelands remain neglected. Experts emphasize that the root cause is not only economic but also managerial, and that courageous, risk-taking leadership and regional agricultural cooperation are essential for sustainable development and food security.
