Scenario of Agriculture Development in Annex 8 Gorgan Plain and Agriculture Development of Priority Areas A8.1 Scenario of Agricultural Development in Gorgan Plain ---------------------------- A8 - 1 A8.2 Selection of Priority Area for the Feasibility Study -------------------------------- A8 - 10 A8.3 Agricultural Development Plan of Tazeh Abad Project Area --------------------- A8 - 15 A8.4 Implementation Plan of the Project --------------------------------------------------- A8 - 49 A8.5 Projects to be Implemented in Phase-1----------------------------------------------- A8 - 51 A8.6 Basic Guidelines of the Agricultural Development of Cheldin Project Area---- A8 - 57 A8.7 Suggestions for Future Study ---------------------------------------------------------- A8 - 65 ANNEX 8 SCENARIO OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN GORGAN PLAIN AND AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIORITY AREAS A8.1 Scenario of Agricultural Development in Gorgan Plain A8.1.1 Main Aspects of Agricultural Development Planning The development of irrigation water source is the precondition for the agricultural development in the Study Area. The development of water source can be done in short, middle and long-term plans. In order to achieve the targets, establishment and execution of the plans on the following items are required. 1. Basic pattern of crop rotation for extricating from gamble farming should be established in a short-term plan, and it should be extended and included in a medium term plan. The crop rotation would be fixed in a long-term plan. The basic pattern of the crop rotation includes annual leguminous pastures and annual grass besides cereals, cotton, rape seeds, and soybeans in order to increase organic matter of soil. It intends to improve the physical characteristics of heavy textured soil in this area and saving chemical fertilizers and pesticides. According to national policy, increase of wheat and oilseeds production need to be focused. 2. Integrated farming with livestock farming which is intended by farmers needs to be established through introducing pastures into a crop rotation, and establishment and extension of the method of making silage and hay of grass in order to use them in dry season. Moreover, livestock farming is promoted through planning of the increase of milk production, the hygienic management, and the construction of milk processing factories. Promotion of livestock farming completely consists with the idea of the basic crop rotation for sustainable agriculture in this plan. 3. Establishment of low cost irrigation and drainage methods. 4. Systematic improvement of finance and assistance for farmers should be executed according to the plan, and the system for planning and executing by local administrations also should be established. 5. Construction and improvement of social infrastructure. Construction and improvement plan and its execution of roads, storehouses, and processing factories should be proceeded simultaneously. 6. Improvement of marketing system is required according to the plan. 7. Supply system of farm materials, fuels, and agricultural machinery should be improved to supply them to farmers in time. In order to operate high technique effectively, timely farm A8 - 1 work is important. It should be improved according to the plan. 8. Strengthening of extension agencies should be promoted according to the plan. Especially, extension of production of forage for domestic animals, methods of making silage and hay, and hygienic management of dairy cattle are not enough. This technical extension contributes much to escape from gamble farming. It is proposed that local TV stations have the programs on agriculture and animal husbandry to broadcast market information on agricultural and livestock products and technical information. It must be effective. 9. Technical research supports all of the plans mentioned above. The research sectors, such as irrigation and drainage, soil improvement, sustainable crop rotation, making methods of silage and hay of grass, etc., and provincial government should carry out the integrated technological research. By executing the plans mentioned above, it is sure to increase the possibility of agricultural development in the Study Area. Suitable measures should also be setup to secure sufficient water resources for the agricultural production in the Gorgan plain. A ‘Phased Development Approach’ is necessary to realize the actual measures to be carried out for the agriculture development as mentioned below. (1) Expected countermeasures 1) Water Resources Aspects：To secure sufficient amount of water resources for a wide range of agriculture development. Absolute shortage and instability of available water resources are the main problems of the Gorgan plain. The potential measures are as follows: a. To provide farm ponds to store river water of Short Term wet season by scheme b. To provide regional water distribution system from the Medium Term Piedmonts region to the area c. To generate availability of water by the rationalization Short & Medium Term of dam operation d. To proceed watershed management including reforestation Medium & Long Term of upstream area e. To conduct river bed stabilization to enhance normal Short & Medium Term pump intake f. To clarify hydrological circulation & appropriate water Short & Medium Term allocation by sectors g. To examine inter-province water conveyance Medium & Long Term h. To extend water saving irrigation practice in the basins Short & Medium Term A8 - 2 2) Soil Aspects：To promote leaching of salts, and to improve poor fertility The soils in the Gorgan plain areas contain high quantity of salt and are poor in fertility. Therefore, suitable soil and water management practices are necessary to get rid of salt hazards and to enrich soil fertility. The measures to be carried out in consideration of these aspects are as follows: a. To secure sufficient irrigation water to leach out salts Short, Medium & Long Term b. To introduce improved farm program to enrich soil. Short, Medium & Long Term c. To provide permanent drainage system to avoid salt Medium & Long Term hazard d. To provide drainage networks in areas with high Short Term Potential for inundation e. To provide economical mole drains to control. Short & Medium Term groundwater level f. To conduct soil monitoring Short, Medium & Long Term 3) Socio-Economic Aspects: To provide and implement agricultural policies acceptable by the farmers and to realize inter agencial Government’s assistances. Most of the farmers, especially in the plain, have quite huge debts due to the instable production and low market prices of the products, even though both farmers and the governments have been making efforts to reconstruct the country after the revolution and the war. It is observed that the number of farmers leaving their farms is increasing and it will continue, if proper measures are not carried out to release their heavy burden. Measures based on these considerations are as follows: a. To start R&D on sustainable agriculture to improve farm income Short Term b. To examine & implement promotion programs Short & Medium Term to increase farmers’ willingness. c. To introduce proper scale farming capable to maintain Medium & Long Term a better life d. To rationalize administrative procedures and qualify Medium & Long Term assistances sufficient enough to eliminate farmers’ distrust. e. To conduct debt relief assistances to farmers Medium & Long Term f. To promote programs to avoid traditional land tenure customs, Short Term which cause farm poverty due to land subdivision 4) Agriculture Aspects：To establish proper farming programs to cope up with the conditions of the plain area, not only imitating those practices of the piedmont plain. Irrigated agriculture has been introduced in the plain areas to realize high productivity A8 - 3 farming with high water consumption, without proper consideration of the natural conditions and traditional culture of the farmers in the region. Also, the farmers in the plain area utilize similar agro-practices of the piedmonts using the groundwater to get the necessary water. Hence, it can be said that the approaches alienate from the natural conditions and livestock based cultures. Measures to be carried out considering these aspects are as follows: a. Agricultural program harmonized with livestock, pasture land Short & Medium Term farming and dry farming is to be examined to cope up with the natural conditions of the plain b. To distinguish areas that can be irrigated to avoid instable Short & Medium Term irrigation water supply c. To establish the government assistance programs Medium & Long Term to realize stable crop selling d. To examine concrete plans to secure sufficient water sources Medium & Long Term for a stable water use e. To provide permanent drainage system capable to leach out salts Medium & Long Term 5) Irrigation and Drainage Aspects：Towards stable water use and relief from salt hazards. It must be recognized that the present water resources are far from sufficiency to promote irrigated agriculture. Besides, there is a high risk potential of salinization problems. Measures should be carried out, based on the above mentioned considerations are as follows: a. To secure sufficient irrigation water to leach out salts Short, Medium & Long Term b. To provide permanent drainage system to avoid Short, Medium & Long Term salinization problems c. To promote water saving irrigation practices in the basins Short & Medium Term d. To provide farm ponds to secure stable water