Concluding a tripartite memorandum of cooperation among Saharkhiz Industrial Agriculture Group, Saharkhiz Applied Science Center and Astan Qods Seed and seedling Institute

On research week, a tripartite memorandum of cooperation was concluded among Saharkhiz Industrial Agriculture Group, Saharkhiz Applied Science Center and Astan Qods Seed and seedling Institute

A memorandum of cooperation between Saharkhiz Companies and Astan Qods Razavi Seed and seedling Institute was signed in order to expand knowledge-based activities and utilize cross sectoral capacities.

According to Saharkhiz public relations, Mr. Farhad Saharkhiz (member of directors’ board of Saharkhiz industrial agriculture group) in signing ceremony of memorandum with Astan Qods seed and seedling institute stated: all countries value their domestic products but we have not taken any action in the saffron field.

He, stating that Spain is currently the greatest competitors for saffron trade, noted: this country support its traders but the government do not provide necessary conditions and suitable platform regarding saffron trade for economic actors as a result we will not be able to compete with other exporters.

‏‏‎He continued: one of the distinguishing features of Saharkhiz group is scientific contents creation and spiritual capacity and organizational structure of Astan Qods Razavi can be helpful in this area.

Member of directors’ board of Saharkhiz industrial agriculture group pointing out that saffron is capital-intensive (requires a lot of financial capital) stressed: the rights of farmer (as producer) and also exporter is violated and disregarded because of price fluctuations, in other words at the beginning of the harvest season price is very low but rises in certain intervals.

Saharkhiz added: a good thing that is happening in this field is the establishment of saffron stock warehouses in which the farmers can receive commodity deposit certificate. In addition we are attempting to establish agricultural commodity exchange funds that can provide the required financial support for better activities in agriculture. Astan Qods Razavi may play an important role in this field of activity.

 Following the meeting, pointing to the importance of knowledge in agriculture field, Salman Salari, the CEO of Astan Qods Razavi seed and seedling institute, maintained: Astan Qods Razavi is managed based on endowments, most of which are very old and basically they have been managed traditionally for many years, but Astan Qods seed and seedling institute has tried to establish and develop knowledge-based activities in order to make change in this area.

Salary also added: we have recently started selling modified seed and seedling instead final product so this can increase productivity in agricultural sector.

CEO of Astan Qods Razavi seed and seedling institute, asserting that Saffron has a particular importance among agricultural products and is somehow emphasized by the Supreme Leader of Iran, stated: we must achieve standard saffron onion In order to differentiate ourselves  in international markets and in this regard , we are ready for any type of cooperation with the private sector and fortunately Saharkhiz company has always been a leader in this field.

Salary pointed: we hope this memorandum be the starting point for mutual activities between Astan Qods Razavi seed and seedling institute and Saharkhiz companies.

Following the meeting, Seyed Hossein Nemati( member of directors’ board of seed and seedling institute and faculty member of Ferdowsi  university of Mashhad) considered Saharkhiz companies as a knowledge-based group and stated: knowledge is the main source of wealth creation so this group must tries to maintain and expand its knowledge.

He mentioned: Saharkhiz group should do the best to train specialized manpower and expand technical knowledge at all circumstances and manufacturers must rely on these two items for an effective competition.

Finally the memorandum between Astan Qods Razavi Seed and seedling Institute and Saharkhiz Industrial Agriculture Group has been prepared in 7 articles and the areas of cooperation, including collaboration and research for off-season production of Saffron, identifying Saffron and native plants of Khorasan, seed production and cultivation of medicinal plants as well as describing business environment for agriculture graduates, has agreed and signed by both parties.