President.ir - President stressed maintaining people�s purchasing power and the efficiency of agricultural products and said, �Dear farmers, ranchers and gardeners contribute to our security and the government is responsible to provide security for their work�.�

Speaking in a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Jihad and senior managers of the ministry on Monday, Dr Hassan Rouhani said, �Working towards self-sufficiency and agricultural and livestock inputs is essential�.

We fully respect farmers, he said, adding, �Farmers should be able to make a living and the agriculture minister is committed to ensure they get their rights and salary�.

Stressing that the main burden of the country�s security is on the shoulders of farmers, he continued, �When the word �security� is stated, people usually think of military forces, while a major part of security is provided by the dear farmers�.

Dr Rouhani went on to underscore that the government is responsible towards a farmer that works for people�s food security, adding, �Without a doubt, if the farmer is not sure about its crop production and sale, he can�t provide the society and people with security�.

He also mentioned the problems that farmers face, including climate problems, pests, and heat stroke, stressing, �The government must plan for all of these fields�.

�Many people, and even the educated, think that our country has problems in providing high-tech facilities, while we have some problems in forage, corn and livestock inputs, and we are importing a great deal of these products every year,� he said.

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran also said, �In the food sector, we must stand on our own feet and produce our own needs inside the country�.

�Universities and agriculture should work together with the priority of people's needs,� he said, adding, �Despite the annual increase in population and nutritional needs, we face water and land constraints�.

The President also said, �The issuance of improper permits has severely limited groundwater�.

Stating that, �An important part of agricultural and horticultural products can rely on rainfed farming,� he said, �People should not worry about supplying dairy products, meat and protein products�.

�Changing the consumption pattern of meat and promoting aquaculture is essential,� continued the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

�An important part of the country's food is smuggled,� he said, adding, �Farmers� work must be guaranteed through insurance�.

Dr Rouhani continued, �The nation's security lies with the farmers and the security of the farmers lies with the government�.

Appreciating all people who word for the country�s self-sufficiency in wheat production, the President said, �We were the second largest wheat importer in the world, but in recent years, we eliminated the need�.

He also stated, �In sugar production our production has almost doubled and we are on the verge of self-sufficiency�.

He said that production of some oilseeds, such as rapeseed, has increased sixfold, adding, �The media should inform people about national honours�.

President Rouhani also said, �An average increase of 4 million tonnes of agricultural products per year is a big step�.

�300,000 hectares in Khuzestan and Ilam and 46,000hectares in Sistan and Baluchistan province are ready for modern irrigation systems,� he continued.