(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman has shown keen interest in using Iran's technological know-how in manufacturing livestock vaccines in addition to chemical and biological pesticides.
H E Dr Fuad bin Jaafar bin Mohammed al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Mahmoud Hojjati, Iranian Agriculture Minister discussed these issues on the sidelines of the signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation and exchanging experiences in fisheries and aquaculture in Tehran on Sunday.
After signing the MoU, H E Dr Sajwani visited Iran's several agricultural and fisheries research centres as well as companies working in the sector.
At one of the centres, H E Dr Sajwani was shown how researchers were using gamma rays to combat pests and preserve food. He also toured the centre's department concerned with producing disease resistant crops.
Iran has been using radiation technology to increase the genetic variation of its cereals, oilseeds, pharmaceutical and industrial crops as well as fruit trees.
Considering the scarcity of freshwater in Iran, much of the work in this area is geared towards developing strains which are drought and saline resistant.
Nuclear-based techniques such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) can reduce and at times eradicate pests. SIT sterilises male insects with gamma radiation and releases them in a target region.
When they mate with female insects, they produce no offspring.
Thus, over time, their population starts to diminish. Iran is among the countries that use SIT to control their crop pests. One example of this is the control of Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller), a pest which decreases the quality and quantity of the pomegranate fruit in Iran.
H E Dr Sajwani and his accompanying delegation met Iranian businessmen and representatives of companies specialising in agricultural production, animal feeds, dairy, red and white meat and table eggs.
The team also met representatives of companies in the boat building and port construction sectors, and those specialising in building grain silos, vaccines besides those manufacturing chemical and biological pesticides.
During his visit to Razi Serum and Vaccine Production and Research Institute, H E Dr Sajwani said that with the knowledge and Iran's role in area of agricultural research, Oman is keen to have scientific and research cooperation with Iran in the fields of agriculture and livestock. He said that Iran has made great strides in these sectors because of its strong research base.
''Iran has been successful in production of livestock vaccines which is assessed as an advantage,'' he said.
Oman is also planning to purchase a research vessel and train Omani experts in Iran.
''The ministry has plans for manufacturing large vessels and converting small vessels to large ones and we want the Iranian companies to take part in tenders for building such vessels.''
Radiation to preserve food
According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, US, more than 40 countries have approved the use of nuclear radiation to help preserve nearly 40 varieties of food.
In agriculture, radiation has eradicated approximately ten species of pest insects.
Radiation has also helped breed new seed varieties with higher yields, such as the miracle?rice that has greatly expanded rice production in Asia.
Agricultural researchers also use radiation to develop hundreds of varieties of hardier, more disease-resistant crops to improve the nutritional value of some crops, as well as improve their baking or melting qualities or reduce their cooking time. <
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