10.71877/ijamad.2024.8371

Pathological Analysis of Developing Iran’s Overseas Agriculture

PDF
  • Farzaneh Rezaei1,
  • Farahnaz Rostami*2,
  1. Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
  2. Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University
Categories

Received: 07/08/2022

Accepted: 05/27/2023

Published in Issue 12/30/2024

Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Rezaei, F., & Rostami, F. (2024). Pathological Analysis of Developing Iran’s Overseas Agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development, 14(4), 325-339. https://doi.org/10.71877/ijamad.2024.8371
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

PDF views: 128

Abstract

Given that Iran's overseas agricultural initiatives have not been successful so far, and comprehensive information on the subject is lacking, the present study aimed to investigate the challenges and development of Iranian overseas agriculture. Overseas agriculture refers to the production of raw agricultural materials and inputs abroad by a country and their transfer into its geographical boundaries to meet domestic demand. It is essentially a form of foreign investment in the agricultural sector of countries that possess adequate capacity and production potential. In this study, relevant data were collected through in-depth semi‐structured interviews with 16 experts, relevant authorities, and overseas agricultural investors, selected using the snowball sampling approach. The interviews were analyzed using the conventional coding process in grounded theory, and the results were compiled in a matrix structure (including open and axial codes). According to the classified axial codes, several major problems hinder the development of Iran’s overseas agriculture. The most significant issue, receiving the highest weighted score, was the lack of technical knowledge, experience, and efficient management among some investors. Another key weakness was the insufficient understanding by investors of the host country's characteristics and potential. The main conclusions also highlighted the absence of a comprehensive information system for overseas agriculture and the lack of executive support for implementing the overseas agricultural statute. Several underlying factors contribute to these problems, such as the exclusion of private sector perspectives in drafting the statute and government policies, political tensions and interactions between host and investor countries, and international sanctions against Iran. Overall, the most notable potential benefit of Iran’s overseas agriculture lies in its capacity to support agricultural development and ensure food security, particularly under drought conditions. However, more evidence from countries with a long history of overseas agriculture is necessary to make a sound judgment about its advantages and disadvantages. 

Keywords

  • Agricultural outsourcing; Foreign investment; Grounded theory
PDF

References

  1. Ansari, M. (2014). Animal breeders analytical monthly. Tehran: Green Economics Publishers.
  2. Araya, M. (2013). Effects of large-scale agricultural investments on smallholder farming in Sub-Saharan Africa (Case study: Ethiopia) (Master's thesis, Lund University, School of Economics and Management).
  3. Anooshepour, A., & Nasiri, M. (2014). The experience of countries in foreign investment in agriculture (1st ed., Vol. 3). Agricultural Planning, Economy, and Rural Development Research Institute.
  4. Arab, M., Pournabi, N., & Abedi, A. (2016). An approach to save Iran from water crisis; Overseas cultivation. In Proceedings of the 9th Conference on Progress Pioneers. Tehran: Islamic-Iranian Model of Progress.
  5. Azadi, H., Houshyar, E., Zarafshani, K., Hosseininia, G., & Witlox, F. (2013). Agricultural outsourcing: A two-headed coin? Global and Planetary Change, 100, 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.11.002
  6. Azadi, H., Vandergeten, E., Teklemariam, D., Nyssen, J., Witlox, F., & Vanhaute, E. (2016). Agricultural outsourcing or land grabbing: A meta-analysis. Springer Science, Business Media Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-016-9700-2
  7. Bastiaens, I. (2016). Investing in agriculture: A preference for democracy or dictatorship? The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 18(4), 785–802. https://doi.org/10.1177/1369148116656981
  8. Cotula, L. (2014). Addressing the human rights impacts of ‘land grabbing’ (Policy Department, Directorate B). Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union, European Parliament.
  9. Daniel, S. (2011). Land grabbing and potential implications for world food security. In P. Golay, I. Biglino, & G. Mehta (Eds.), International development policy (Vol. 2, pp. 25–42). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0449-9_2
  10. Davis, K. F., D’Odorico, P., & Rulli, M. C. (2014). Land grabbing: A preliminary quantification of economic impacts on rural livelihoods. Population and Environment, 36(2), 180–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-014-0203-0
  11. Edelman, M., Oya, C., & Borras, S. M. (2013). Global land grabs: Historical processes, theoretical and methodological implications and current trajectories. Third World Quarterly, 34(9), 1517–1531. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2013.850190
  12. First Iranian English Economic Daily. (2016). Iran, Kazakhstan expand agricultural cooperation. Financial Tribune, Economy, Domestic Economy. Available at: http://goo.gl/oa5V9q
  13. Glaser, B. G. (1992). Basics of grounded theory analysis: Emergence vs. forcing. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
  14. Gobien, S., & Nolte, K. (2016). “Land grabs” and contract farming: A win-win situation? Paper presented at the Land and Poverty Conference 2016: Scaling Up Responsible Land Governance, Washington, DC.
  15. Grajales, J. (2015). ‘Speaking law to land grabbing’: Land contention and legal repertoire in Colombia. Land Deal Politics Initiative (LDPI), Working Paper 17.
  16. Hallam, D. (2019). Foreign investment in developing country agriculture: Issues, policy implications and international response. Session 2.2. Promoting Responsible International Investment in Agriculture. Available at: http://oecd.org/investment/gfi-8
  17. Hajbagheri, M., Parvizi, S., & Salsali, M. (2007). Qualitative research methods. Tehran: Nashreney.
  18. Hanjra, M. A., & Qureshi, M. E. (2020). Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change. Food Policy, 35(5), 365–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.03.006
  19. Havnevik, K. (2009). Outsourcing of African lands for energy and food: Challenges for smallholders. Paper presented at the Workshop on Governance and Biofuel, 1–30.
  20. Jahangiri, A. (2016). Overseas agricultural statute book. Tehran: Ministry of Agriculture.
  21. Ji, C., Guo, H., Jin, S., & Yang, J. (2017). Outsourcing agricultural production: Evidence from rice farmers in Zhejiang Province. PLOS ONE, 12(1), e0169951. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169951
  22. Korea Legislation Research Institute. (2017). Overseas agriculture and forest resources development and cooperation act (No. 14656).
  23. Khaledi, K., Shemshadi, K., Helali, A., Haghani, F., Malayeri, F., Sheikhali, M., et al. (2014). Overseas agriculture: Agricultural production capacities in neighboring countries and major trading partners (Vol. 2). Tehran: Institute of Planning, Agrieconomics and Rural Development Research.
  24. Krieger, T., & Leroch, M. (2016). The political economy of land grabbing. Homo Oeconomicus, 33(2–3), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41412-016-0011-7
  25. Kumar, S. (2010). Agriculture outsourcing & food security: A way towards mutual cooperation. In India, Africa & LAC under South-South Cooperation: Agriculture Outsourcing & Food Security.
  26. Liu, P. (2014). Impacts of foreign agricultural investment on developing countries: Evidence from case studies (FAO Commodity and Trade Policy Research Working Paper No. 47). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  27. Mbengue, M. M., Waltman, S., & Turley, L. (2016). Investing in land for water: The converging legal regimes. Investment in Agriculture Policy Brief.
  28. Ministry of Agriculture. (2017). Tehran, Iran. Available at: http://maj.ir
  29. Nasr Esfahani, A. (2014). Extraterritorial agriculture: Production capacities and the legal issues in selected countries (Vol. 3). Tehran, Iran: Institute of Planning, Agrieconomics and Rural Development Research.
  30. Obeng-Odoom, F. (2013). The grab of the world’s land and water resources. Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, 33(132), 527–537.
  31. Oya, C. (2013). Methodological reflections on ‘land grab’ databases and the ‘land grab’ literature ‘rush’. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 40(3), 503–520.
  32. Rakotoarisoa, M. (2011). A contribution to the analyses of the effects of foreign agricultural investment on the food sector and trade in Sub-Saharan Africa. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy.
  33. Roman, K., & Okada, A. (2015). The role of Japan in overseas agricultural investment: Case of ProSAVANA project in Mozambique. Conference Paper No. 82.
  34. Sablonnière, R. (1986–2016). How do we define land grabbing? European Coordination via Campesina. Available at: http://eurovia.org
  35. Singh, S. P., Singh, B., & Kumar, U. (2013). Water management strategies for achieving food security. APCBEE Procedia, 5, 423–428.
  36. Stein, H., & Cunningham, S. (2015). Land grabbing and formalization in Africa: A critical inquiry. ASC Working Paper 124.
  37. Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (2006). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory, procedures & techniques (B. Mohammadi, Trans.). Tehran: University of Humanities and Cultural Studies.
  38. Seyedhamzeh, S., & Damari, B. (2017). The conceptual model of food and nutrition security in Iran. Community Health, 4(3), 223–232.
  39. Sindayigaya, W. (2013). Foreign investments in agriculture—“Land grabbing”. GLS, PELUM Network, Kenya.
  40. Wheeler, T., & Kay, M. (2011). Food crop production, water and climate change in the developing world. Outlook on Agriculture, 39(4), 239–244.
  41. Yaofu, L., Xinhong, F., & Chunbei, C. (2013). The definition of agricultural outsourcing. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 4(11).
  42. Yazdanpanah, M., Hayati, D., Hochrainer-Stigler, S., & Zamani, G. H. (2014). Understanding farmers’ intention and behavior regarding water conservation in the Middle-East and North Africa: A case study in Iran. Environmental Management, 135, 63–72.
  43. Zhaoxin, Z. (2016). Challenge of overseas Chinese agricultural investment. Land Issues Research Center for Rural Economy, Ministry of Agriculture of China.
  44. Zolin, M., & Braggion, M. (2013). Land grabbing, food security and energy security in Asia: The cases of China and India. In 3rd Asia-Pacific Business Research Conference (pp. 1–13).