According to KhabarOnline, Mehdi Younesi provided a comprehensive report on the executive actions in the fields of agriculture, water resources, and the environment during the provincial government trip and planning council meeting on Thursday morning.
Younesi emphasized the significance of agriculture in the province, stating that the primary occupation of the people in Mazandaran is agriculture, with over 230,000 hectares of land dedicated to rice cultivation, which constitutes a substantial portion of the country’s rice production. He added that plans are in place to transition traditional and subsistence farming into modern, knowledge-based, and efficient agriculture. By implementing innovative techniques, water consumption for rice cultivation is expected to decrease by 60 to 70 percent without compromising product quality.
The governor stressed that by establishing a rice production chain and a support fund for farmers, the rice produced will be processed and marketed directly by the farmers themselves, ensuring that economic benefits reach the producers instead of intermediaries. Additionally, guaranteed prices for rice will be communicated to farmers before planting to foster planning and trust in production.
Younesi addressed the management of water resources in the province, noting that water consumption is nearly 98 percent of available resources, with rainfall occurring during non-agricultural seasons. Therefore, the use of dams, water reservoirs, and pilot smart agricultural programs is essential. He further stated that through intelligent water management, the existing dams and 134 water reservoirs could supply water to approximately 70,000 hectares of agricultural land, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the province’s water resources.
In another part of the report, the governor discussed the challenges posed by coastal erosion and environmental threats in Miankaleh, indicating that the average retreat of the sea in the eastern part of the province is about 1,200 meters per year, and approximately 88 meters across the entire province, posing a serious threat to the coasts and habitats. He mentioned that to mitigate these damages, plans have been made to construct a coastal road along the province to manage tourist traffic and prevent environmental degradation.
He added that Miankaleh, which spans about 70,000 hectares, is at risk of desiccation, with parts of its aquatic habitats having been lost. The governor of Mazandaran further noted that by transferring treated wastewater eastward and restoring water channels, plans are in place to maintain the ecological stability of Miankaleh and control its desiccation over the coming years.
Younesi emphasized that the implementation of these projects in agriculture, water resource management, and combating coastal erosion, with the cooperation of the province’s representatives and the community, will pave the way for sustainable development and increased efficiency of natural resources in Mazandaran, ensuring the province’s food and environmental security.
