The comeback camels
Among the lush and fertile lands in the northwestern region of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Bactrian camels roam the area once again.
The revival of this specific Iranian camelid species takes place in Ardabil city, a bustling capital surrounded by the Moghan plain. A symbol of Ardabil’s cultural heritage, these camels were facing the threat of extinction due to changing land use and to the high cost and scarcity of fodder.
“Our ancestors cared for the Bactrian camels for generations, motivated not by profit, but by a deep passion for these magnificent animals,” reflects Ashkan Dadjoo, a 28-year-old camel producer. “But sustaining them became increasingly challenging as our pastures shrank, making way for farmlands.”
Recognizing the livelihood and economic potential of these animals, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the local Ministry of Agriculture - Jahad, embarked on a transformation of the camelid sector to tap into activities such as agritourism, livestock feed production, wool and milk processing.
FAO’s project centred on the conservation of Bactrian camels and equipped local communities with knowledge on sustainable camel production practices as well as on harnessing the potential of camelid products.
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An environmental and culinary revival in Iran
Amidst the picturesque desert landscapes of Rigan in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s southeastern Kerman province, one community is witnessing a remarkable revival of its culinary tradition while upholding environmental sustainability.
Such a transformation is the fruit of the Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Lands (RFLDL) project, an initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project has become a catalyst for economic empowerment and environmental conservation in Rigan, with local communities and rural women at its core.
Known for its cultivation of dates, citrus, sesame and henna, Rigan nonetheless faces a significant threat from desertification. Characterized by its expansive plains and towering mountains, Rigan experiences temperatures that can soar above 50 degrees Celsius during the peak of summer. The area is dotted with date palms and citrus orchards that thrive in its more tropical zones.
However, land degradation and biodiversity loss are acute, primarily due to unsustainable agricultural practices and deforestation. These issues are compounded by overgrazing, excessive harvests of forest products and the relentless movement of sands, all of which exacerbate wind erosion and diminish the efficacy of watershed ecosystems.
In addition, communities have traditionally depended on wood and shrubs for fuel for their mud ovens, a practice that further led to deforestation and environmental degradation.
As one of its responses, FAO’s RFLDL project distributed 750 gas ovens and 500 wood-efficient stoves, especially when compared to mud stoves, cutting down deforestation while helping the revival of the traditional Komaj bread making.
Komaj bread, a delicacy infused with the sweetness of dates and aromatic cardamom, complemented by the earthy tones of cumin—a staple spice of the region—is at the heart of this revival.
The switch to gas furnaces has enabled the women of Rigan to increase the production of Komaj bread, transforming it from a household staple to a source of income. This shift not only preserves a treasured culinary tradition but also provides new economic prospects for the community's women, who can sell their product at the local markets, further contributing to their economic resilience.
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Maryam’s Journey - Empowering the Community Through Local Food Products
Maryam’s Journey - Empowering the Community Through Local Food Products
- Maryam starting her home business producing “Reshteh”, herbal extracts, tea and date. @FAO
In the heart of Rigan City, Chahmalek Village, a transformative tale unfolds, personified by Maryam, a dynamic individual of 45 years. Her journey under the RFLDL project has become a beacon of empowerment and tradition, as she produces a wide array of cherished local food products.
Maryam, supported by the RFLDL project, has preserved the herbal remedies tradition with grace. Her distillates and medicinal plant extracts capture the essence of the region's natural wealth while providing the community access to age-old remedies.
She has also harnessed the flavors and healing properties of herbs to craft delightful herbal teas. Her teas not only please the palate but also offer a journey into the region's natural remedies and cultural heritage.
Maryam’s journey of culinary tradition takes her to the heart of Persian cuisine. With the project's support, she has mastered the art of making "Reshteh," the beloved Persian noodle. This skill, passed down through generations, has found a modern resurgence in Maryam’s hands. Her noodles, prepared with love and expertise, have found their way into local markets, tantalizing the taste buds of many.
She has also cultivated date that, with their diverse flavors and textures, are a tangible link to the heritage and culture of the village.
Maryam’s journey is one of satisfaction and gratitude. The RFLDL project has brought meaningful change to her life by providing the means to produce and market her local food products, leading to a stable income for her family. She believes that with more support, she could expand her market and reach a wider audience.
RFLDL project, "Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land with Particular Attention to Saline Soils and Areas Prone to Wind Erosion Project" has been formulated and operationally activated in 2011 to restore degraded ecosystems, mitigate land degradation, and improve local livelihoods focused in two provinces in the country Kerman and South Khorasan.
From Bushes to Ovens - A Green Transformation in Rigan
From Bushes to Ovens - A Green Transformation in Rigan
- A rural woman from Chahmalek village and her children using the gas ovens provided by RFLDL to bake bread. ©FAO
In Rigan, where nature's beauty meets tradition, the FAO RFLDL project has revolutionized the way locals bake and, in doing so, has contributed to environmental conservation.
A significant milestone in this transformation is the distribution of 750 gas ovens and 500 stoves to the community. These ovens and stoves have become the heart of local kitchens, where traditional bread, known as "Komaj," and cookies are lovingly prepared. It's not just about baking; it's about sustainability.
Traditionally, the locals used bushes to fuel their muddy ovens, a practice that led to deforestation and environmental degradation. The introduction of gas ovens not only made baking more efficient but also had a profound impact on the region's ecology. By reducing the need to cut down bushes for fuel, these ovens have saved and restored regional green vegetation and pastures also contributing to climate change mitigation. Subsequently, tremendous amount of time of local people, mainly women and children, which used to be spent on wood collection was also saved and they could use it for other purposes, including education, and personal affairs which further enhances the quality of their lives.
The local market is now brimming with freshly baked "Komaj" and cookies, reflecting both tradition and sustainability. This dual benefit showcases the FAO RFLDL project's commitment to empowering communities while safeguarding the environment. The project has not only changed the way people bake but has also instilled a sense of responsibility towards their natural surroundings.
RFLDL project, "Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land with Particular Attention to Saline Soils and Areas Prone to Wind Erosion Project" has been formulated and operationally activated in 2011 to restore degraded ecosystems, mitigate land degradation, and improve local livelihoods focused in two provinces in the country Kerman and South Khorasan.
Raziyeh - Preserving Tradition and Empowering Women
Raziyeh - Preserving Tradition and Empowering Women
- Raziyeh and her daughter showcasing their needlework crafts in an exhibition held on 28 September 2023. ©FAO
In the serene landscape of Rigan City, Chahmalek Village, a remarkable transformation is underway, thanks to the Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land with Particular Attention to Saline Soils and Areas Prone to Wind Erosion Project (RFLDL) (funded by GEF).
Meet Raziyeh Jenab, a local resident who has become a beacon of empowerment and tradition.
In 2011, Raziyeh embarked on a journey of rediscovery, driven by her passion for traditional needlework. In line with the RFLDL’s sustainable alternative livelihood approach with the support of the project, she received comprehensive training, equipping her with the skills to create exquisite needlework products, including bags, tablecloths, wristlet bands, and cuffs. Raziyeh's dedication to preserving this ancient art form was not only a personal pursuit but a community endeavor.
With the assistance of a rural development fund established through the subject project, Raziyeh's dream expanded. Used the funds to set up and equip a workshop, she has turned from a job seeker into an entrepreneur bringing together 30 other women from the village, uniting them under a common purpose. Today, they craft traditional needlework products that carry the spirit of their culture and heritage.
While Raziyeh's products have found a market in Tehran, she still faces some challenges on her path to success. Marketing and selling these exquisite creations remain two critical hurdles. While the project has already provided initial supports and required capacity developments, to overcome these obstacles, Raziyeh is seeking further technical support and advanced capacity building. Her unwavering determination to promote her local business, coupled with the project's continued support, promises a bright future for Chahmalek Village and its rich traditions.
RFLDL project, "Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land with Particular Attention to Saline Soils and Areas Prone to Wind Erosion Project" has been formulated and operationally activated in 2011 to restore degraded ecosystems, mitigate land degradation, and improve local livelihoods focused in two provinces in the country Kerman and South Khorasan.
In an Iranian oasis, rural women fight to save their village and livelihoods
Villagers tackle encroaching sand dunes and land degradation to build resilient livelihoods
On the eastern side of Rostam Abad Village, where Kobra Palangi’s family lives, the land is being sieged by advancing sand dunes. “If we do not stop the sand movement, my date palms will be buried under the dunes,” Kobra says worriedly. Rostam Abad Village is one of the many oases scattered in the eastern part of Kerman Province in southeastern Iran.
Over the last couple of years, unprecedented droughts, primarily caused by climate change, have been a severe threat to the village. These droughts, combined with over-grazing, poor land management and inadequate vegetation, mean that this area faces huge risks of soil erosion and sand dune encroachment.
“Last year, our neighbour, an elderly man, was trapped inside his home because dunes were piled behind the door, and we had to rescue him from the back window. If dunes move further toward the village, I will lose my home and garden, and we will be displaced.
The FAO-implemented Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land (RFLDL) project in the area has helped villagers take on this challenge. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the RFLDL project supports community members to form development committees in which to raise and address challenges, such land degradation. The project has empowered residents to take part in sand fixation and land rehabilitation activities to stop the dunes.
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Tapping into community potential in Iran
Villagers work together to pool resources and address longstanding challenges
A road to connect the village to urban areas. A school in need of rehabilitation An upgrade to the leaky pipeline wasting precious drinking water. Villagers in Zangooyi were holding their breath for many changes that would greatly improve their community, but the funding always seemed to be lacking.
In this rural settlement in South Khorasan Province in the eastern part of Iran, floods would come every winter, cutting the village off from the rest of the world and preventing the villagers from accessing urban areas, including for medical care or emergencies. A bridge was sorely needed to stop this isolation.
“When I was the village mayor for 10 years, we tried to repair the road connecting our village to nearby settlements, but we failed to do so because the government could not allocate us enough money, and we did not have the ability to mobilise the required funds ourselves,” explains Ali Akbar Ebrahimi, who has lived in the village for his entire life.
“We experienced similar difficulties in renovating our schools and overhauling the drinking water pipelines of the village. Both remained unresolved for years until FAO’s project began here,” Ali Akbar continues.
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Empowering Iran’s desert villagers
Training in vocational skills opens up a world of livelihood options
It is not long since Abolghasem, a 36-year old resident of Se-Qale Town in the eastern province of South Khorasan, used to mine black stones for the cobbled streets that adorn cities. He still works with stones – but of the multi-coloured kind that adorn people.
“I’d be paid less than IRR 500 000 (less than USD 5) a day to work in a rubble trench mine, out there in the desert [in a precarious job scheme]. Now, after all the training and support, I could easily make more than IRR 1 700 000 (USD 17) a day. And that’s working from my own home.”
Abolghasem was initially encouraged by his wife, Fatemeh, to take the course on lapidary (or gemstone) work, held by FAO’s Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land Project (RFLDL). “I was the first to enrol, around three years ago,” Fatemeh says. “Lapidary seemed an appealing career, with promising prospects, and I told my husband so.”
Between the course and the loan from the Village Fund Committee, also supported by the project, the spouses acquired all the skills and purchased all the equipment needed to start their gemstone business.
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How making cookies changed one Iranian woman’s life
How making cookies changed one Iranian woman’s life
Necessity led Fatemeh to discover her potential for business
In the town of Se-Qale, a small rural community near the Lut Desert in eastern Iran, Fatemeh Safarpour provides for her children with her own cookie-making business. What started out as a way to make ends meet in a time of need has blossomed into her own small-scale bakery creating job opportunities for other women in the area, thanks to help from FAO and her local community.
Fatemeh’s life was turned upside down 18 months ago when her husband went bankrupt and left her alone to care for their three children. With no job of her own, it was a difficult time for her.
“Before my husband left, I just looked after the house and took care of my children,” Fatemeh says. “But [after that happened] I was determined to find a new source of income to support my children.”
After considering her skills and the tools available to her, Fatemeh concluded that baking traditional cookies could be a feasible option to generate income – although she was sceptical about whether she would be able to pull it off. Fortunately, Fatemeh was a perfect candidate for help from her local community’s Sustainable Community Development Fund (SCDF), set up as part of FAO’s Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land (RFLDL) project.
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Adaptation of Quinoa in Iran: An Innovative Approach to Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture
Adaptation of Quinoa in Iran: An Innovative Approach to Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture
Global warming constitutes the biggest challenge of today’s world. The impact of this phenomenon is not affecting the world evenly. Some regions, including ours, are receiving greater hits. Across the regions, the poor are the most vulnerable as their food security will be at stake. There is a need to identify crops that can adapt.
Aware of the challenge, countries in the Near East and North African Region and FAO decided to turn the threat into an opportunity by taking benefit of the region’s diverse climates and cultivation conditions. Learning from the world and searching for adaptable crops came to the agenda. To start with, a Latin American species called Quinoa was selected due to its highly nutritional value and agronomical versatility. The crop has proved to be an important alternative to traditional crops with regard to regional and global food security, especially in regions facing food production limitations due to severe impacts of climate change. The Quinoa project was started in December 2013.
In Iran, thanks to the joint efforts of the Government and FAO, Quinoa was fully evaluated for its adaptation and productivity. Based on the extensive fieldwork undertaken in Karaj, Ahwaz, Iranshahr, Jiroft and Kahnouj, the crop was found to be adaptable to the climate conditions of the country. The Project was successfully concluded in 2015 and the crop was introduced to farmers in the following cropping seasons.
Managing Transboundary Pests
Managing Transboundary Pests
Tomato borer (Tuta absoluta) is one of the most damaging transboundary pests. It originated from South America and were introduced to the Middle East through Europe and North Africa. The pest was first seen in Iran in October 2010 in West Azerbaijan. In less than one year, 26 provinces in the country were affected.
Tomato is one of the major vegetable crops in Iran. It is produced for domestic consumption and for export as fresh product. it is also processed as tomato pulp and tomato sauce for export. Iran has tomato farms and glasshouses in 32 provinces with a total production area of 177060 ha. The annual production of tomatoes in Iran is more than 6.6 million tons.
Given the transboudary nature of the disease, in 2012 FAO developed a project in the Near East Region to monitor the pest and produce a guideline for pest detection and control. The project was completed in November 2014.
In Iran, the project helped minimize the damage of Tuta absoluta through development of healthy tomato transplants, providing technical knowledge to the national professionals and practitioners for building and maintaining safe greenhouses and promoting the use of fully-automatic tomato-planting machines. Some six-hundred Iranian experts (40% females) and 740 local farmers (30% female farmers) were trained on how to effectively manage the pest and secure production of this strategic agricultural product.
Policy/Strategy Planning. Establishing Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy in Iran
Policy/Strategy Planning. Establishing Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy in Iran
Iran faced many challenges for achieving sustainable agricultural development, started to address structural problems, including the agricultural sector. The Government, seeking guidance in the development of an overall vision that would allow the agricultural sector to make an efficient use of the available resources, requested FAO’s technical assistance in the preparation of a Strategic Framework for Long term Sustainable Agricultural Development (2001-2004).
The Government appreciated the assistance of internationally recruited experts, including senior expertise, in order to benefit from the potential global technical and economic development. The assistance addressed the changes in world trade, the challenges on the state budget caused by the reduction of crude oil prices, the dispersal of responsibilities over several ministries and the potential of several sub-sectors. The framework would form a basis for future development and highlight specific priority measures. It would also identify possible needs for technical assistance.
Being in the process of formulating its Third Five Year Development Plan 2000 – 2004 (TFYDP), the country aimed at reducing and targeting subsidies, diversifying the economy, and achieving higher degree of balanced growth. In the agricultural sector, the objectives included stimulating development to increase agricultural exports and enhance self-sufficiency in food production. Without formulating a framework for the sustainable development of agriculture, achieving such objectives, aside from being difficult to achieve, might have serious trade-offs. Hence, the development objective of the Project was to prepare the framework that would enable effective and efficient achievement of the specified objectives of the TFYDP.
The major output of the project was a strategic framework for sustainable agricultural development that could be used (and is being used) as the basis for future development. The underlying strategic framework stresses upon economic efficiency of resource utilization with close considerations to the Government priority of social welfare and sustainability of natural resource management.
The project also produced an in-depth analysis and assessment of major policy issues of importance to the Government. The envisaged policy issues documents stressed recommendations on measures to ensure economic efficiency, social equity, and sustainability of natural resource management. Although the project did not have a direct impact on farmers, the implementation of the framework would have a clear influence on the mobilization of rural communities, as it would support the privatization of state enterprises, and the development of agricultural cooperatives.
Crop Production. Implementation of the Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Iran
Crop Production. Implementation of the Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Iran
Since FAO promotes the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the preferred approach to crop protection and regards it as a pillar of both sustainable intensification of crop production and pesticide risk reduction in the aim of promoting food safety, enhanced food quality and the protection of consumers, IPM is being mainstreamed in all of FAO’s activities pertaining to crop production and protection also as part of its advocacy of climate-smart agriculture, less input intensive agricultural methodologies and the safeguarding of natural resources in agricultural practices. Through the reinforcement of local community practices the FAO IPM programme has been implemented in the framework of three regional programmes in Asia, Near East and West Africa, as well as several stand-alone national projects.
Following engagements of FAO, the Islamic Republic of Iran has become one of the pioneer countries in the Near East and North Africa region which started the implementation of IPM programme in April 2004. Within the ambit of the project, several countries visited Iran between 2004 and 2014 to benefit from the capacity built within the country on the implementation methods of IPM and Farmer Field School (FFS). Today, the IPM/FFS in Iran is applied to more than 14 different crops. Another excellent result of the Project has been the creation of the IPM Group, a Community-based Organization (CBO) group of farmers and consumers, which are engaged in a “Farm to Fork” initiative that they have established on a trust based market which is currently expanding.
During these years, the government of Iran made an effective use of FAO assistance provided through TCP projects. The advances made in seed certification and quality control through TCP assistance was impressive. The project assistance was used to update seed legislation and to establish a Seed Certification and Quality Control Institute which would be a vital component of sustainable self-sufficiency in food for Iran. The TCP project on “Management and Control of Pesticides, Animal Drugs and Chemical Residues in Foodstuff” had also a direct bearing on raising farm productivity and improving food safety.