The agriculture sector can act as an alternative for the oil sector, deputy minister of labor Eskandar Zand told Fars news agency on Wednesday. “Promoting agricultural exports can help bring the economy back on track,” he said. The agriculture sector contributes to 20 percent of the country’s job market and 12 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), the official noted. Under the current circumstances where the economy is trying to reduce its reliance on oil revenues, the agriculture sector can play a key role in attracting investors, Zand added. The official also underlined the need for promoting knowledge-based agriculture by supporting research and development.
