Investigating the status of agriculture in southern regions of the country

From the rise of Reza Shah until fall of doctor Mosadegh in 1332-1304.

Abstract

Attention to agriculture situation was one of the important issues in the development of economy, commercial and social in the region of the Persian Gulf. Since more than eighty percent of the rural population were subsistence farmers, improvement agricultural methods and helping to farmers in solving problems was considered as one of the basic needs of this group during the past centuries. Lack of attention of public official caused that many farmers of in the southern part of the country concerned. Crops in southern Iran was one of the most important exports through ports to adjacent areas that has made an important contribution to the economic turnaround for this region, As far as natural disasters, such as pests, which directly leads to lower crops of agriculture caused negative impacts on the economy on ports and mass migration of farmers in these areas caused. In addition to considering government from agriculture in the Persian Gulf region, the National Council as the legislative body in the country, was not unaware of this, Representatives of Southern in parliament tried to use their powers to allocate the government’s attention greater to southern area of Iran. Considering the quality and quantity of the sixth till eighteenth of the National Council (the beginning of the Pahlavi regime until fall of the doctor Mosadegh) on agricultural issues in southern Iran, an issue that has not been seriously discussed. For this reason in this present paper analyses the views of the National Council on the state of agriculture in coastal areas of Iran in the region of the Persian Gulf.

Keywords:

The National Council, agriculture, farmers, coasts and ports of Persian Gulf.

Income:

A quick look at our history shows that agriculture has always been a fundamental pillar of livelihood and employment of our people, As far as the history of agriculture has been estimated three thousand years before Christ. One of the main causes of weakness and lack of development of and also farmer’s growing problems was due to the country's political weakness. A look at the history of the country suggest that until the Qajar period there has been no public reference to investigation for the agriculture sector and agricultural affairs was ruled by offices and other institutions, particularly property Court. Low and no significant trends in the agricultural sector continued in the Pahlavi era. This In addition to leading to a decline in agricultural productivity, another effect were followed such as the demographic changes and the formation of migration from the injured area to other parts. In the southern part of the country due to palm groves that the economic life of the people who live in coastal areas and areas adjacent that was depend on it, and planting of sugarcane and cotton in the fertile land of Khuzestan that provided subsistence of farmers, from this was no exception and lack of consideration and attention to the farmers by the government and the National Council, creates irreparable problems.
The main objective of this study was to clarify the role of the National Council as the sole legislator in relation to one of the most sensitive areas of the country means the Persian Gulf. Since there is almost no independent research on this subject- However, the research component has been done about the National Council in separate, the issue of Persian Gulf and agricultural- but in the case study of research components as an integrated part that link the Persian Gulf issues with parliament, especially in the area of agriculture, no research has been done. However, this paper deals with this issue.
In this study, first of all we tried to collect the documents in connection with the views of the National Council and after that will discuss about Agriculture situation in the Persian Gulf region and then, as far as possible, some of analyzes will present. These documents can be divided into two categories. The first categories of documents was the petitions of the National Council in eighteen courses. The petition is a document that has long existed in the history of Iran and this request was wrote to cure people’s lives and help from high-ranking officials and politicians. After the Constitutional and the establishment of the National Council, people thought that parliament is the venue for their compliment and from the beginning, one of the special commission in parliament was named "the petitions committee" Which was devoted to the investigation of complaints and the petitions of the people. Parliament because of monitoring role on government performance and also because of address people play intermediary role between the people and ministries. The second categories was the documents that were sent to government departments and each department is responsible for investigating complaints were received.
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and Public Works" in 1297 was released the first journal of Agricultural called the "Agriculture and Commerce" that was one of the important work of the ministry. Another was the publication that the Ministry of Agriculture attempted to publish it. The first number of the publication was experts in the fields of plant pests and diseases that the experts of the Ministry of Agriculture were published it in 1325. However, due to the shortage of experts among farmers, these publications could not be a solution to the problems and shortcomings of agriculture. We were used this two publication to evaluate the status of the Agriculture of southern ports in this study, but due to this publication was specific for southern agriculture area, it did not present a solution to many problem in this study.

Evolution of the Ministry of Agriculture

The major part of the effort was made to improve agriculture in the country, was in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, knowledge of the history and formation of the Ministry of Agriculture as an independent ministry is necessary. As we noted, in the Qajar period, there was no independent authority for agricultural affairs in the agricultural sector. During the Qajar period, government proposed the establishment of "the Agriculture Department," in the Ministry of "Trade and Public Works". A few years after, the organization of "Trade" from the Ministry of "Trade and Public Works" was separated and transferred to the Ministry of Finance. In the year 1296, the Ministry of Public Works made the commission’s farmer named "Agricultural Council" and with the recommendation of the council, agricultural school in Tehran and rural schools across the country was emphasized. Aims to establish the school in Tehran was training of agriculture engineers to fix the shortcomings of agriculture and reform practical activities of it and had been appointed that the school's students was selected specifically from children of ordinary people. In the same year in accordance with the decree of the Cabinet Office, A ministry was established that called "Office of Agriculture and Commerce".
In 1309 the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and Public Works was divided into two Ministry: 1. National Economy, 2. Ministry of Road. In September 1310 the "Ministry of National Economy," was composed of three Department: 1. Office of Agriculture, 2. Department of Industry, 3. Department of Trade. In 1311 the Department of Agriculture and Industry merged and an office was held that called the "Agriculture and Industry" and after that Decomposition, Department of Agriculture and Department of Industry was established for each individual again. Department of Agriculture until August 1320 continued his work and after that was changed with the "Ministry of Agriculture".

Date

Palm tree is one of the important product of garden in this country. Many provinces of the country, especially the southern provinces are dealing with the cultivation of this crop. One of the most important Iran's exports other than oil is date that is cultivating in the southern regions of the country. Therefore, attention to exports this product have always been important for Iran.
Sometimes products obtained from the planting date rose the state's income. When It had sharp decrease in exports in 1309, the boss of trade immediately formed the Commission in Mohammareh to address this issue.
Shortly after that, forty-eight thousand tons were exported to neighboring areas from Iran that in comparison with previous years had significant growth. Exports dates and prevent damage of palm owners also closely were investigated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Iranian consulate in Basra after the necessary research wrote a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and announced the main reason for declining in exports of dates from southern ports of Iran in proportion with dates of Basra was custom’s prevention of the entry box packing date from company of “trading partners in Africa and the Near East”. This company is one of largest exporter of goods from Iran and Iraq. Therefore, it was proposed to the Iranian government, if the intention of the authorities is to support the export date, you must permit the board and boxes of Soviet to come.
Commercial competition between ports in southern Iran and Iraq in the sales dates was caused that each country solve problems of farmers and traders faster ,government of that country get higher income. Negligence in this subject caused that dates to be corrupt. The Finance Department of Abadan Upon issuance news in the press about the increasing of toll prices of date, said this news to the State Tax Administration of Khuzestan and emphasized that in the case of the issuance news of the toll prices of date, traders will prepare Mohammareh dates from farmers and they will not purchase of date of Iran and As a result, despite the assistance that were done from farmers every day, in other ways will face with the problem. Accordingly, Iran’s governor exempted exporters of palm and also bank helped them. However, the problem palm groves owners and business who were engaged in the purchase and sale dates, persisted. Since dates was an important export of south of the country, Drought in this region and negligence of government officials in the provision of facilitating the export of dates
in 1308 and 1309, palm growers in southern regions Lost about 26 million Rials. It was all in favor of the trade dates in Basra and caused that the date product of Iraq be replaced gradually with the date of Iran in foreign markets. With respect to the drought in Khuzestan and ports and high rate of inflation and unemployment, many farmers in Khuzestan and southern parts of this region began the migration to adjacent area. Hence the numerous letters were sent from the Finance of southern to the Finance Ministry and Department of Trade and so Ministry of Finance were considered the new facility for export the date of Khuzestan. According to which foreign buyers of their product could enter currency rupee and with notification of the National Bank could buy and export of their dates. Facilitating for import the requirements of dates packaging were considered and were exempt from customs duties. Department of Trade sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance and requested that they tell the new facilities of the tax laws of their province and if we still had problems, immediately notify that appropriate measures to be taken in this regard. At that time, date of Khuzestan and southern ports was in two types of quality. First type of it was the date of a rate equal to Mohammareh and Iraq. This dates were bought from palm growers of Khuzestan and Ports and were sold in markets in the US and Europe by the Iraqi Jewish merchants. Second, low-quality and cheap dates that were packed by palm growers in Mohammareh and Abadan and other ports within the basket, regardless of the neatness and beauty and in terms of ability to purchase and tastes of consumers, this type of product were sold to small and large ships that had come from various parts of Asia, Africa and Kuwait. In addition to the purchase low quality of dates with good price and increase government revenues, their agricultural products are also sold in a reasonable price in the Persian Gulf. But, since 1311 and after that, the government banned purchase and sale of low-quality of date in south area and customs officers searched for that and made trouble for traders and they despite their desire to have the date of southern Iran, went to the beach of Iraq. Therefore, the purchase of low quality date boom fell. Therefore, the Department of Finance of Khuzestan carefully examined the decline in exports of dates and decrease of state income and with sending the amount of date export in the 1314-1309 to the Ministry of Finance, appealed to the sale low quality date of south and decontrol the limitation of the fleet for loading that came to buy this kind date From different areas of the coast of Iran. During the year 1322 the government tried that in every way that possible, and in many ways, such as providing facilities for the purchase and sale date from palm owners in the Persian Gulf, commerce of this product in the coastal and marine of Iran become well in proportion with Iraq. However, negligence of public officials to create the desire conditions for transporting inside and outside of the country and the Lack of sharing of railway wagons to the Palm Growers of south, caused that the dates become rot and the products lost due to the hot weather.
Although the national railway line was given importance to the situation Agriculture of south and existence of graveled road caused that the most fertile regions in the country had built connected and problems of transportation of agricultural products, particularly in the southern port were less than the time before. Nevertheless still palm growers faced to the problems for transport goods to the rest of region in the country.
On the other hand, many of people sent their petitions to the National Council, with the demand for transport date and prevent it from deterioration and also farmers don’t placed on the verge of bankruptcy. Hence, the National Council demand from "Iran's state railway agency' until before rising heat in heating season, give them their require freight wagon. Subject of shipment date considered to the government because palm growers had complained repeatedly and governors immediately sent a commission to revise before transport dates to ports and coastal towns in south. Along with all the problems that farmers and owners dates faced for transporting goods, another problem that the government has never solved it definitively was providing facilities for export goods that sometimes caused damage to farmers due to the loss of product. This situation caused that core export dates moved to the Arab neighbors of Persian Gulf. In fact, when the farmers were dissatisfied and the number of public complaints would increase, the government temporarily provide facilities of exportation of date. But after resolve these problems definitively, all these complains were forgotten.
Dissatisfaction of Dates owners and merchants with the state monopoly of trade remained the obviously in the documents of that time. Under this law growers and exporters of date had to connect with the National Bank and be committed to the terms of the exclusivity provisions of the law. It was not possible for them in some aspects because it depends on the location of palm dates and different times that they were picking and if date acetified, it was not exportable and if they were not able to sell their palm, British forces stationed in the Persian Gulf region through the South Oil Company, trading date in the Arabic country cause damage to Iranian palm growers.
South Oil Company which effectively was Intervening to export the dates, was taken the economic and commercial action in the Persian Gulf region. This company had brought a number of their ships to transport to the coast of Africa and India and was exchanging with items such as seeds, sandals and lime and In case of shortage of goods, rupees was paid. In this regard, just palm grower damaged by transport goods in one hand and on the other hand committed to a state monopoly and deals in the export of date was totally in favor of the Iraqi people. According to numerous complaints of farmers from the state monopoly of trade, the National Council of State consulted with the Ministry of Finance and requested the ministry to provide facilities for exporting the date. The Ministry of Finance permit farmers to sell their dates without connect with the National Bank On the condition that within eight months connect with this bank. Other facilities that the Ministry of Finance permitted it to exporters, was the exemption of customs duties of packaging cans date. The ministry has also requested that shall notify to the Khuzestan Finance and ports to see if there are still problems concerning the exportation of dates, the necessary actions do to resolve it. The government also in order to provide facilitate commerce, all trader that are coming from Kuwait, Oman and the southern coast of the Persian Gulf to beaches and ports in the Persian Gulf for the purchase date from palm growers, was exempt from taxes and customs duties, On the condition that their stop in the southern ports was done just until the transaction date was acting and after completion of the transaction, return to their own country. With the incidence of the economic crisis that had emerged for the owners palm groves of Khorramshahr and Khuzestan due to the foreign monopoly, caused that they sent a petition to Parliament for demanding to transport dates to out of country. Governor of agricultural monopolies in response to the complaint of palm growers, in March 1323 permitted that the people of this area export forty tons of dates monthly.
One of the difficulties that the Iranian government was facing on the date product of south and Khuzestan, was contraband dates from beaches and ports of Basra and Iraq. Dates such other exported goods had relation with the exchange, when the exchange rate increased in a free market, also prices of the date increased. For this reason, many of the traders moved date to neighboring regions such as southern Iraq and earned the amount of foreign exchange and used and refused to pay the income tax and other money belonging to the Iranian government, Therefore the Chief Inspectorate of Customs agents were asked to prevent for trafficking the date in every possible way in Khuzestan and ports. By the incidence of serious deficiencies in the exportation of a multitude of palm dates and affected stakeholders and lost their money, While the Iraq’s government sold each year a significant amount of their date product in India and Pakistan and date export of Iraq in the Persian Gulf ports became important and While the date of Iran and Iraq matched equal in quality, Ministry of National Economy requested from the management National Economy of Fars province to Studies enough and show the reasons for the lack of progress to date export under a comprehensive report with comments and suggestions on solving the problem and send it to the Ministry of National Economy. However, with all the important things that export date product had for the governments of Iran, and the government has tried to completely eradicate all the negligence of the owners and their problems found in the southern palm area, sufficient attention has been paid to this area. With the start of World War II and the presence of foreign forces, especially in the south, which caused food shortages and inflation in the country, the Ministry of Finance issued a decree to the General management of Customs of southern ports until this organization prevent the exportation of all food, especially dates to abroad. Thus, by beginning of the war, with devastating impact was done on the exports dates of south of the Persian Gulf region that played an important role in the economic action of Iran, This trend has continued long after the war ended, many palm growers were damaged seriously. The farmers faced with two other major problem in the south, one of them was taxes and other was infestation of marine locusts to agricultural land and palm groves which left behind a lot of damage each year.
Although farmers were obliged to pay taxes, but declining prices of agricultural products by pest in their farms, so they sometimes disobeyed to pay the tax and also the intense pressure by government officials caused them to migrate.

Mirza Ali Kazerouni

Representative of the Bandar Abbas city to eliminate this problem and help the farmers who damaged in southern regions he believed that the if pest damaged agricultural products, especially dates in Khuzestan, Minab, Bandar Abbas Dashti, Dashtestan up to Balochistan, government receive the tax in the case of products, It means that because dates is the agricultural product in the large part of the Persian Gulf, the state take their date rather than money.
Officers had imposed a high tax pressure on farmers. This made that the farmers and owners of the groves sent a lot o petition to the National Council and tried Parliamentarians get to hear their screaming. Residents' Minooji "and inhabitants of" Haj Salbookh “the price of their dates were put downward from 1308, and did not get much benefit from the sale and exportation of dates, complained to Parliament because of unfair taxes on palm and demanded for an investigation into the agricultural land taxation, Because of a decline in the price of palm and palm owners inability to pay taxes, the most of farmers in Khuzestan began to immigrate to Arab ports of the Persian Gulf. This left behind long-term negative impacts on the economy and the agricultural area and along with farmers and other problems, means arable land invasion of locusts, caused government in cooperation with the National Council to resolve this problem more accurately, however, in some periods, failing to meet the needs of farmers, quickly showed its negative impact. In late 1307, the numerous complaints from people of Minab due to coming of pest to their products reached to the National Council Which indicates the inability to pay taxes and tax exemption request for their groves. These complaints were dealt quickly by the Parliament and management of Diagnosis income in the Ministry of Finance gave strict orders to the management Finance of the southern area that count tax of the year 1307 with discount for small owners But tax of the year 1306 and 1307 for the major owners who had been imposed huge damage, completely receive.
In national council parliament, Mirza Ali Kazerouni who was the effortful representative of Bandar Abbas, proposed the Ministry of Finance that due to the lack of rainfall and consequently reduce agricultural crops in the southern region and also marine locust plague to this areas that cause dry bulk of the palm groves, Two years do not received taxes for people of Minab and the Ministry of Finance in this regard, was presented a bill to parliament, which consists of a single matter: “The National Council obliged the Ministry of Finance to exempt the people of Minab to pay tax directly from land and the estate in the years 1306 and 1307 and deficits that comes to the public budget In this way to be compensated from savings and additional revenue in the year 1305”. The government’s bill presented in the National council parliament quickly adopted without opposition from the members. Shortly after the Ministry of Finance helped farmers and growers in the palm who had suffered a lot of damage because of marine locust attack on Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Minab and another bill was submitted to the National Council that in this bill, the representatives had been allocated two hundred thousand Tomans of public revenues in 1307 to purchase the product for the areas where has been plagued.
These actions were limited to the Locust in 1306 and 1307, while the beginning of each year new marine locust were attacking to Persian Gulf coastal areas and if it was not blocked, they spawn and later agricultural land had heavy damages. In 1308, when the government Credit bill of locust attack presented to the National Council, Mirza Ali Kazerouni demanded that governors do more attention and supervision in the southern area.
Decree of the Council of Ministers that the wages of workers that deal with locust pest shall be paid by the master of villages and the government had no responsibility for their wages. This caused that numerous petitions and complaints were sent to the National Council by people who were willing to address this issue. Ministry of Agriculture, followed by the National Council ordered his officers to pay all worker’s wages that excrete locust around the village. At the same time, the population of the Fars province because they had pest damage of their products, requested grains and loans from Parliament.
The petitions submitted to the National Council, caused that the Ministry of Agriculture sent a letter to the Prime Minister on the locust excretion in the coast of Persian Gulf and sent four tons of poison to these areas and was ordered that because of severe losses that had been imposed on farmers, five hundred tons of barleycorns were given to farmers by the Department of grain and bread in the Fars province. On the other hand, The Ministry of Agriculture considered forty million Rails for fending of locust attack. Moreover, The Ministry of Agriculture sent a letter to the governor and the county seat of Bushehr, Abade, Larestan, Fasa, Firozabad, Kazeroon, Ardakan, Zarghan and Shiraz due to the influx of marine locust that had come from India and Saudi Arabia and had attacked to Iran, They asked to inform any damage that had been imposed on farmers in this region to agricultural management or provincial governments and local officers of pest fending.
This issue was very important for the Ministry of Interior that at the same time, the Ministry has asked the Fars Governor, Where it is not possible to provide free laborers for excretion Locust,
use from hired workers and the county seat was also ordered when there are severe locust invasion for repelling pests and encourage farmers and in cooperation with agricultural officers help as possible as they can.
Accordingly, in a collaboration between the inhabitants of the coastal and marine and Ministry of agriculture, on the other hand, provided suitable conditions in arable land. People of Bushehr Sent a letter to the Parliament and wrote their appreciation and thanks from officer named engineer Saee who had been sent to remove locust from this area by the Ministry of Agriculture and also Hakimi who was the prefect of Neyriz. However, this pest was excreted in Bushehr, as the investigation of public complaints at this time showed that due to locust invasion in the Fars, Bastak and Lar, a strong tendency was developed .among farmers to migrate to the southern of the Persian Gulf.
Thus, in April 1323 the management of fending pest in the province of Fars requested Governor until according to reports received about the winged locust fly which had come from the coast of Persian Gulf to this province, order to the prefect and all village chief of this regions to help in this case Such as date, time, length, height and direction of locusts that come from Which area and go to which region and also determine the landing area and locust Spawning region for pest fending officers because detailed information on this region was helpful for the officers.
Following the spread of this pest in agricultural land in the south, the Ministry of Finance was forced to give forty million Rials credit amount on the request of the Ministry of Agriculture to combat by this pest. This bill, which was approved during two meeting in the National Council, was very helpful against this pest.
But shortly after that, due to not use funds in the coastal areas and increasing of complaints to the representatives of the region, Mehdi Arbab who is a representative of this region, asked the Minister of Agriculture about this budget and where had spent. He also demanded from the relevant Minister to more monitoring the pest fending officers. Furthermore, Abdul Rahman Faramarzi and Shokrollah Safavi, who are the representatives of Lar and Bushehr, requested that because of the locust plague in the south of the country, The Minister of Agriculture soon present in the National Council Parliament to inform representatives from the measures that have been taken to remove locust.
Locust invasion to the Persian Gulf in late 1329, which had come from neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and India, was severe enough that was devoted several main topics of the meeting in the National Council, that Parliament again wanted that grant a new credit over thirty million Rials to the governments for fighting with locusts in the coastal and marine.
The collection of these actions resulted that Lotfali Moadel, who was Representative of Fars Province in the National Council, was ordered to appreciation of officers of the Ministry of Agriculture to fending pest in the arable land by his clients in the Fars and ports.
Moreover, by the beginning of the seventeenth National Council period, again, representatives appreciated from the agricultural officers that despite the lack of equipment and facilities, to a large extent had been able to remove marine Locust and also They was demanded from the ministry to take more and better attention in solving these problems in the future.
This shows the continuous activity of the sixteenth National Council to monitor the functioning of the state institutions in matters of the issues of the Persian Gulf and its beaches. As a result, people were more satisfaction and tendency for migration to other areas significantly reduced.
This sense of security for the excretion of marine locust was temporary, because every year at the start of the New Year, and infestation of locust from surrounding areas, Farmers protested.
This time the people of the Khuzestan and Ahwaz in May 1332 sent a letter to the National Council and requested that the entire nation pray to repel pest from Khuzestan. They reiterated that in the absence of government officials to address this issue, all over the country will suffer as the same as Khuzestan in the future.

Cotton cultivation in the coasts and ports of the Persian Gulf

Cotton is a native plant in Iran. Cotton cultivation almost came to Iran during the tenure of Amir Kabir. Cotton seed was divided among the farmers for the first time by an American priest named Stakynk. To encourage and awareness of farmers to grow cotton, the governments described the benefits of cotton and published it in newspapers.
In the southern part of Iran, the cultivation of this crop was considered. Cotton was one of the agricultural products that it had become the goods for trading between Iran and neighboring areas. But the problems of cultivation of this crop in Southern area, was caused that Cotton Corporation do some activities as follows:
Meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, provincial governors, and the tax workers and farmers in this region to investigate cotton cultivation.
Identification of Cotton-rich areas and talent of surrounding villages in the field of cotton cultivation.
Identify the minor and major owners and determine the number of cotton farmers in the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Determine the amount of cotton cultivated land in the villages of southern based on acres in years 1314-1315.
Research surrounding landowners and farmers credits in order to grant subsidies.
Determine the amount of seed required in every village in the south of the country and the quality of the seed.
Department of Agriculture and Commerce, also by distribution a hundred of booklet about pests of cotton in cotton farmers in the southern regions of the country, played an important step in the development of agriculture in the south.
One of the first people who played an important role in the development of the cotton cultivation in southern regions was Ali Akbar Khan Davar. In this regard, he established the "Cotton Company”. His intention was to create a company that farmers willingly do the cotton cultivation. Cotton Company was also responsible that by distributing of high-quality cotton seed along cotton farmers in the south and to eliminate undesirable seeds helped farmers in this area.
Cultivation of these crops in southern areas due to lack of proper and accurate understanding of the region, the lack of experts in agriculture progressed slowly.
Cotton joint stock Company, by paying the subsidies to cotton farmers, tried to reinforce cotton cultivation and then the cotton purchase operators deduct the subsidies payment when purchased this product from cotton farmers. But because of the salinity of the soil in the Persian Gulf region, farmers shouldn’t be able to take enough benefit from the cultivation of cotton in this region, and for this reason they were damaged. So that the people of Khormoj, Dashti and Dashtestan due to damages that they were earning from cotton cultivation, could not pay back the subsidies of the Cotton joint stock company. Cotton officers, by complaining from them issued the verdict based on that every farmer who do not try to cultivate cotton, will be a prisoner. Farmers in presence of the southern state and Cotton joint stock company, laid a condition that if they damaged again from these kind of losses, the government is required to compensate. Southern ports governor with a letter to the Ministry of Interior regarding the agricultural subsidies and eliminate the concern of them from this Ministry requested that by visiting the cotton company, this matter seriously solved.
Long after again cotton cultivation was concerned by a person named Manouchehr Farhang. The detailed and comprehensive information from this person is not available and the only information had been gotten by a petitioned which he forwarded to the National Council. In his opinion, the land of Khuzestan had outstanding talent for cotton cultivation, and we could harvest the elegance and the finest white cotton so it could competitive with Egyptian cotton. He announced a history of cotton in 1314 in Ramhormuz, Ahu Dasht, Dezful, Shushtar, Behbahan that in 1318 the top ten thousand acres of cotton became completed and was harvested. But because of the monopoly of cotton gin factory in this area came into bankruptcy. He pointed to his specialty for establish the branch of gin factories and the experiences in the utilization of renewable gin factories in West Gilan, Isfahan and Kerman, And with sending this petition to the National Council, assured that if gin factory establish along the Karun river, not only the evolution created in the field of Khuzestan but also jobs and income will create for people in this area. National Council sent a letter to the joint stock company of amended cotton cultivation and requested from the company that do the study on the situation and the cultivation of cotton in these areas. Upon the request of the National Council, The Company also carried out studies on this issue and cotton cultivation in the area again was measured and was examined. But the results showed that barbed worm found in this area, which was a serious risk for the cultivation of cotton. The company also asked the Ministry of Agriculture to take an effective measures for eradicating this pest. The company started to establish a branch of cotton in the region of Khuzestan so the cultivation of cotton in this region during the Pahlavi era actually did not come into operation.

Irrigating of agricultural land

One of the main problems faced by farmers in the southern part, was irrigating the agricultural land. Bridges that Broke and dams which had closed the river and they were not repaired by the government, Sometimes wasted southern population and dried agricultural land. For example, the deterioration of a bridge in Dezful caused that eighty thousand people in this area that the agricultural work was the only way of their subsistence, were subjected to severe damage and therefore, in May 1310 wanted from the parliament that by repairing of bridges, agricultural land of Dezful and around it and farming re-organized. This was examined by following up the legislative body of the Ministry of National Economy and the Ministry of ways and on this basis, an engineer was sent to Dezful until required studies in this regard be done. On the other hand, at the request of the National Council and Office of agriculture, some engineers were sent to Dezful for studying about the “Shadravan” dam to close it.
In 1320, due to flourishing the agricultural in the ports and coasts of Persian Gulf, Atta Ullah Khan Rouhi who was representative of Jiroft calling for greater attention of the ministry of agriculture to the issue of irrigation in the southern part. This ministry guaranteed to provide suitable conditions for irrigation of agricultural land and promised that as soon as it possible, paid attention to the southern city. Any member of the Southern States were trying to do some actions for irrigation and dam building in the field of their selective region. Because the prosperity of agriculture in that region, leading to become excellence compared to other parts of southern area. Shokrollah Safavid who was representative of Bushehr, during negotiations about the road in the coasts and ports, requested the government that immediately action for building dam on Mond River and improve agricultural action in Dashti region.
Another issue of the southern agricultural areas was with water salinization of the Karun River due to entering to the salt water of the Persian Gulf. As you know, two great rivers "Karkhe" and "Karun" were large freshwater rivers in the province of Khuzestan. Karkheh River is located in the southwestern of Khuzestan and progress from north to south and after a route of about 900 kilometers pours into the Tigris River in Iraq. Karun in the Iran-Iraq border also joins to the Arvand River and pours into the Persian Gulf. Salinity waters of the Persian Gulf in connection with the Karun and Karkheh, was also affecting sweet water of these rivers and also the other problems of agriculture in this region, means the salinity of the land caused that the problems of farmers in the south became double. Government had done no action over the years to solve this problem and for this reason, the state's failure to use the Karun River for irrigation of agricultural lands in the south, was the major problems of farmers in this region. Therefore Zia oddin Neghabat requested for increasing fund for agricultural irrigation in order to do proper utilization of this river.
Representatives pointed to this fact that the Karkhe River and Karun River have caused that the land of Khuzestan became fertile. But the fresh water of these rivers pours into the salt water of sea. They wanted parliament to build a dam on the Karkhe River as soon as it possible.
Construction of the dam which was irrigating 150 thousand hectares of agricultural land and was the cause of the prosperity of agriculture, before 1320 was considered by the authorities, but due to World War II, its construction was halted. After the war, in 1323, Saed who was Prime Minister assures to the parliament that the construction of the dam will be completed. From 1325, Again engineers were dispatched to the location to conduct necessary studies. However, due to stopping construction operations of dam, parliamentarians severely criticized the government and queried the government's decision to build the dam on Karkheh and demanded a specific date for the resumption of their work. Same time when Representatives began to protest for delaying construction of the dam, the government quickly started important steps to perform building of dam. Representatives of the South believed that if irrigation water of south was handled, this province can supply all of the country's budget on its own. So that the revenues which earn from agriculture and oil in this region can makes Iran needless. Moreover, the representatives had expected from doctor Mosadegh to urgent reform of agriculture situation in Khuzestan. Ministry of Agriculture said that reason of delay in the construction of Karkheh dam was low and insufficient funds of irrigation agency. But announced that technical and engineering studies such as mapping and geological studies are being conducted to select a location and promised to representatives of Khuzestan that within two years the dam will be built. Representatives by comparing the situation of Agriculture in Iran and Iraq, wanted to divide the land among farmers of Mishan plain in Khuzestan and were sure that by constructing several dams on the different river that flows in this region, agriculture will be revitalized.
Executive policies of the government to build dam on Karkheh was caused that Representatives wanted from the government to establish faculty of Agriculture in this area and along the dam, Because according to the capacity of land in Khuzestan and competition of its agricultural production rather with agricultural production in the province of Mesopotamia, Khuzestan region, as well as a strong competitor could eliminate a regional power from the scene of economic and with proper policies about affairs of agriculture could fill this vacancy.

Cultivation of sugarcane and tea

Cultivation of sugarcane was common in the past in Iran and the center of it was the Khuzestan, but due to foreign attacks its boom fell and lost its importance. First in the Qajar era, Amir Kabir tried to restore of sugarcane cultivation in Khuzestan until by this work the sugar of all people in Iran provide. Therefore he ordered that some sugarcane cuttings transfer from Mazandaran to Khuzestan, and farmers cultivate them.
This product was cultivated in Shooshtar and had good results. In the time of Reza Shah also Agriculture Department took some cuttings of sugarcane from Java and India into Iran and was cultivating in Khuzestan.
In late 1328 and, beginning in 1329 the Ministry of Agriculture imported 27 pieces of cutting sugarcane from countries such as USA, Brazil, Pakistan, India, Egypt to Iran and planted them in the Agriculture land of Ahvaz, But this sugarcane were lost against the cold weather in autumn and it did not have a positive result.
As it happened, about a hundred and fifty thousand acres of land in Khuzestan were irrigated by close the Karkheh dam on the river and sugarcane cultivation that was an old farm revived. Production of this harvest in the country, especially after World War II that the country faced with a shortage of different food, particularly in terms of sugar, was really important. Therefore according to idea of representatives of south and studies of foreign specialists in the Khuzestan about sugarcane cultivation in this region, closing of Karkheh dam could develop sugarcane cultivation in the Khuzestan within three years and about ninety thousand tons of sugar could earn per year. Such an achievement in one hand caused that the government don’t import a large amount of an especial product and on the other hand with the establishment of sugar factory near the sugarcane land, many of the jobs were created and was inhibited from their migration
Another important recommendation that representatives of southern considered about the agriculture in ports in this period, was in the time that the bill to hire two specialists for working tea was sent by the Ministry of National Economy. Representatives believed that the government must attention to the southern part for the tea cultivation and also experts were sent to study about tea cultivation in the southern regions.
Kazerouni who was representative of Bandar Abbas, was ready to send an experts to study the tea cultivation in Southern area by his own money, until after announcement of the report of the experts, the government promote the cultivation of tea in the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf. Rapporteur of the Budget Commission believed that in areas where the climate is dry, Tea cultivation is not useful.

Conclusion

As noted above, Agriculture was considered as one of the main Iranian Business, so that if the country managers didn’t pay attention to it, irreparable damage applied to the country. There were such as unemployed of a large part of the farmers and as a result migration and the formation of migration phenomena were arose by them. On the other hand, lack of attention to issues such as agriculture in sensitive areas of the country such as the Persian Gulf region not only showed the weakness of the state, but also Iran's government revenues reduced. Moreover the government forced to import initial products of the country from other parts. The National Council, in line with the duty to monitor the work of government agencies, in several sessions in 1329, a series of measures performed which mentioned below:
# Approval of the budget in agricultural part.
#Establishment of agricultural banks in the Persian Gulf region.
# Establishment of agricultural colleges for training of specialized personnel.
#Formation of agriculture Commissions from farmers in this region to talk about the problems and needs of agriculture in the agricultural lands of south.
# Familiarize the farmers with new principles of agricultural science under the supervision of experts of this field.
With the incidence of pests in agricultural products, parliament tried that with the approval of purchasing pesticides of cotton and dates and other agricultural products from abroad, compensate some part of the losses that had been incurred to the farmers or with the approval of bills, in relation with entry of pests and plant diseases, provide the necessary cooperation with the government.
However, due to lack of knowledge of agriculture in the country, sometimes problem of agriculture was not completely eradicated and each year, farmers had a lot of damage and they were forced to migrate. This had a long-term adverse effects in the southern coasts and beaches and caused an economic turnaround in the Persian Gulf region in favor of Arab countries.