Some may have wondered why the agriculture sector, as opposed to the activities of the industrial and services sector, has always been the prime suspect in debates related to Iran’s water crisis.
Why are land use planning, good governance, smart agriculture, compliance with cultivation pattern, extra-territorial cultivation, waste reduction and value chain generation not implemented comprehensively? We have heard time and again that food security is crucial and deserves attention, as “food” takes the front seat in international discourse, but why is it not getting the attention it deserves. It seems that the answer to all such questions is rooted in one line of thinking, and that is the attitude of “finding the suspect” instead of “identifying the problem”, which is at the root of fundamental challenges in economic, social, cultural and political arenas, Fatemeh Pasban, a faculty member of Agricultural Economy and Planning Research Institute, prefaced an article for Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture with this note. Translation of the full text follows.
Identifying a problem is a skill, where information is assembled in a rational and precise manner for optimal use. In the meantime, obstacles in the way of decision-making and implementation of plans should be removed without agitation and concerns, which pave the way for taking the best wise decision.
All these tasks originate from efficient management skills that could help make the right decision in risky situations and formulate the roadmap with foresight to reach a desirable conclusion. In other words, before the problem can be solved, it is necessary to know its roots and have a correct understanding of what situation represents the problem and which problem should be solved. `
Imagine you come home after a weeklong business trip; you open the refrigerator and find the milk has expired, and start blaming others for not preventing food waste. The main accused are members of the family.
While the expiration date is an effect, the main issue is that the family members were not home for some reasons to consume the milk or didn’t pay attention for other reasons. This is the type of judgement passed by the state management in the agriculture sector, because there are different effects and making the accusation is the easiest path taken instead of identifying the problem, which allows marginal security for justifying their management.
Prime Suspect
We have heard a lot from officials and managers that the problem of water crisis arises in the agriculture sector and pertains to watermelons! It is as if other countries do not use water in agriculture sector.
The truth is that they do but the difference is that they their capable managers exercise sound management, foresight, monitoring and warning systems that help identify the root of the problem.
Agriculture has always been considered “suspect” vis-a-vis water crisis now and in the future, without analyzing the role of the government and the management of agriculture sector, as well as its players and beneficiaries? We have never sought this clarification and gas-lighting has led to the accumulation of challenges in the agriculture sector.
Accountability
The second problem is the failure to determine the share and role of administration in the accumulation of issues and problems in the agriculture sector.
As the farmers say, when it rains and production goes up, managers consider it the result of their skill, but when production goes down, they look for suspects and there is no talk of the role and contribution of the management.
Another important issue is the lack of commitment and responsibility. Why are managers not accountable? Why don’t they pay for the inefficiency of their management? Is the cost of non-expert and wrong economic, social and environmental decisions ever estimated and how do they compensate it? Until a manager pays for economic and social costs, accountability will never materialize, and we will always have the same problem; the manager and those responsible only have the authority and credit, but are not accountable and responsible.
If a manager pays for ineffective management, no person without management capability and expertise will accept responsibility or make a decision without the input of experts and specialists.
On the other hand, the vital issues of the country always take on a political color and by politicizing the issue, the “opportunity for planning and proper management” is lost. For example, if a historical look is cast on the issue of “drought” in newspapers, magazines and websites, it can be seen that for a long time experts and researchers have sounded the “drought alarm”. However, without paying attention to the opinion of experts and politicization undermine the issue and sometimes even deny the phenomenon of drought. Such a stance has harmful ramifications for both people and the environment.
Rampant Food Inflation
Let’s have a look at agricultural and food statistics! By using problem-finding skills, the main cause of such unfavorable trends in the agriculture sector could be identified.
In Mehr 1401 [7th month of last Iranian year], out of 53 food items selected in urban areas, 18 items had an annual change higher than the point-to-point inflation rate of urban areas (47.7%) and the point-to-point inflation of vegetable oil was 289%, eggs 67%, lentils 59% and Iranian rice was 38%, (Statistical Center of Iran, average price of selected food items in urban areas), indicating a severe food inflation that pushed a major segment of the population toward food insecurity and malnutrition. What is the problem of rampant food inflation?
If we look at the statistics in terms of production and national revenue, as per the national survey of SCI, gross domestic product at fixed prices of 1390 [fiscal 2011-12] in the first quarter of 1401, the activities of the agriculture group had a negative growth of 0.8% compared to the spring of 1400.
The agriculture sector group faced a decrease in growth, which means less food production and this endangers both the producers’ livelihood and the country’s food security. What is the problem?
According to a report released by the Ministry of Agriculture, during the first four months of 1401, export of the agriculture and foodstuff sector decreased by 9.58% in terms of weight and 15.41% in value compared to the same period of the previous year. Lower exports and loss of foreign markets can have a negative impact on the economic growth of the agriculture sector. The notable point in the export of the agriculture sector is the loss of foreign sales and markets that have a long history. According to this report, during the first four months of 1401 compared to the same period of the year before, the export of fresh grapes decreased by 59%, fresh apples by 39%, saffron by 40%, pistachios by 71%, dates by 29%, potatoes by 67% and tomatoes by 49%. Again, the question remains unanswered and is followed by false reasons.
On the other hand, based on the results of the labor force data of SCI in the spring of 1401, from the perspective of the economic sector, it can be seen that the share of employment in the agriculture sector decreased by 1.9% compared to the corresponding period of a year before. The trend of the past quarter indicates a decrease in employment, which has led to a decline in household income, which means empowerment has not happened from the perspective of employment. Should we look for the problem or for the suspect?
Rising Costs
Statistics published by SCI show that the production cost in the agriculture sector and the food value chain has increased significantly, which results in an increase in the price of food. For example, the cost of the disc harrow for irrigated land with a tractor in the spring of 1401 compared to the same period of the previous year increased by 64%, and the cost of a grain harvester increased by 50% compared to the same period of the previous year. Increasing inflation in the cost of production and services related to marketing and sales, uncertainty and reduced investment in the food value chain, drought and water scarcity, declining productivity, etc. will lead to an increase in food prices. What is the reason for the rising cost?
Experts say that the potential evaporation in Iran is three times more than the world average. About 70% of the rainfall in the country are lost due to evaporation. About 75% of rainfall are in non-irrigation seasons and requires water storage, frequent droughts and low water productivity. Why?
Massive Waste
The amount of wheat waste is 15%, potato 20%, oilseeds 13%, barley 10%, grapes 34%, apples 28%, dates 20%, peaches and cherries 30%, and so on; that is to say we used water, soil, capital, etc. and crops have been produced that we did not use. What is the problem with all such wastes in the production of essential goods?
The issue of “water”, “soil”, “climate change”, “loss of forest and pasture”, “loss of biodiversity”, “economic and political shocks”, “drought”, “decrease in the real purchasing power of people” and “import and smuggling rent” etc. pose a considerable threat to food and livelihood security due to the rise in food prices and will bring more risks in the future.
If the facts are not addressed and the problem is not found, hunger and food insecurity and “bread” riots will endanger people’s health and the country’s security. The issues of “agriculture sector”, “food”, “providing food security”, “ensuring the livelihood of the beneficiaries of the agriculture sector" and “sustainable development of the sector” require recourse to science, knowledge, skills, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, productivity, partnership, empathy, fighting corruption and rent, increasing investment, efficient and creative management, social capital, rational and intelligent support, efficient economic and political diplomacy and good governance.
In the current situation, the first step to start finding the problem is to boost social capital, because any plan and policy that does not involve the farmers and beneficiaries of the agriculture sector will fail because the activities of the agriculture sector are in the hands of the private and non-government sectors.
