Majlis to Vote on Agriculture Ministry’s Nominee

Lawmakers will hold a confirmation vote for the proposed agriculture minister on March 2.  
Kazem Khavazi was named by President Hassan Rouhani on Feb. 24 to take the helm of the ministry, ISNA reported. 
According to the parliament's internal regulations, the president will deliver a speech for an hour during the session before four lawmakers debate on the qualifications of the nominee, with two speaking in favor and two against.  
Khavazi will then have 30 minutes to defend his records and plans. 
Former agriculture minister, Mahmoud Hojjati, resigned late November before his impeachment trial. He was to be questioned by lawmakers for his poor track record and failure to address major problems facing the sector. 
Since then, Abbas Keshavarz was in charge of the ministry as caretaker. 
Khavazi has a PhD in agriculture, specializing in pedology (the study of soils), from Tarbiat Modarres University and is currently a deputy agriculture minister. 
He has held positions in several agricultural institutes and implemented multiple projects related to farming and pedology.