Inauguration of 98 IWM and Forestry Projects in Ilam

Some 98 IWM and forestry projects were inaugurated in Ilam province simultaneously by Agriculture Jahad Minister under the order of President.

According to FRWO's website, in the inauguration ceremony of these projects, which was held in Mehran city, Dr. Kazem Khavazi, Agriculture Jahad Minister stated: "In this visit, 123 important development and manufacturing projects in water and soil sector, processing, greenhouse, livestock and poultry industries and Natural resources management plans with a budget of 4950 billion RLs from public resources, banking facilities and private sector investment with direct and indirect employment of about 5,920 people will be inaugurated.

He added that in this ceremony some 97 watershed management projects with an area of 31,000 hectares and a afforestation project with an area of 10,000 hectares with a total budget of 630 billion RLs will be inaugurated that would play a vital role for the development of the province.

In this ceremony, Qassem Soleimani-Dashtaki, the Governor-General of Ilam province said that so far several watershed management projects have been carried out in the province and added with the implementation of these mew projects the total areas under IWM has increased to 300,000 hectares in 2019 from 100,000 hectares in 2013.

Soleimani-Dashtaki stated that last year more than 31% of the country's forest development projects was carried out in this province, and said: "The area of forests in the province has increased to 60,000 hectares in 2019 from10,000 hectares in 2013.

Based on this report, the Minister of Agriculture Jahad during his visit to the province visited natural resources projects and praised the activities in the field of IWM and forestry and said "The plantation of 10,000 hectares of new forests in just one year in Ilam worth mentioning."

Dr. Khavazi added: "The implementation of IWM projects in the province has led to an increase in groundwater in the province, and the improvement of people's livelihood and rural economy."