The second conference on ‘National Village Day’ and the first exhibition of rural people’s capabilities was held from October 6 to 9 to honor their efforts and services and to facilitate participation in different economic areas, said Seyed Abolfazl Razavi, deputy vice-president for rural development and deprived areas.
The exhibition at the Tehran International Permanent Fairgrounds saw various products and handicrafts from all over rural Iran.
Emphasizing the significant role of rural people in the resistance economy - a set of economic principles proposed by the Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to reduce reliance on oil revenues and boost domestic production to counter sanctions - Razavi said grounds for rural participation in economic activities should be paved.
By harvesting rural potentials and capabilities, the growth and prosperity of the whole nation will be guaranteed,” he said, quoted by the Iranian Agriculture News Agency (IANA).
Development of processing industry in rural areas can help prevent migration to urban areas.
Currently, 17.2 million people inhabit the rural regions, of which 5.3 million are under the age of 30 and unemployed. Rural areas in Tehran, West Azarbaijan, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Fars, Kerman, Lorestan and Markazi provinces have the highest rate of unemployment.
Among the unemployed, 28% are men and 72%, women. Also 50% of rural employment is in the field of agriculture. However, the figure is not the same in all provinces. In Ardebil and Kerman 67.8% of employed people are active in agriculture while in Tehran, Hormozgan and Yazd only on average 21.5% are active in farming.
