Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 472 Agricultural Changes
Naserdin traveled by train to Sochi, having previously visited Tabriz and Baku. Because the Tsar's journey to Sochi would take some time—first by train to Moscow, then by boat to Rostov, and finally by carriage to Sochi—it would take a month.

Try to understand; Russia hasn't built many railways yet. This is the fastest way for the Tsar to go south.

Naserdin first visited the rural areas of Tabriz, where most farmers had already adopted steam threshers and other modern farming tools. The village architecture had also changed; dilapidated houses had been replaced by beautiful new ones, and new streets, clinics, and grocery stores had been built, all indicating that the farmers' lives were improving.

Shah inquired about the village chief and other villagers' lives and whether they were facing any difficulties. He also treated the entire village to lunch and listened to a report from the local agricultural bureau chief.

Tabriz's industrialization led to a large influx of people, which in turn increased the consumption of agricultural products. Most of the crops produced in the surrounding villages were sold to the city, and transportation was no longer as difficult as it used to be; it was now either by train or highway, and dirt roads had been replaced.

Industrial products from the city are also popular in the countryside, and the locals really enjoy these novelties. Now that they have more money, they can afford to buy some.

Beginning in 1862, in order to promote rural development, the government started distributing cement and building materials to each village annually to encourage farmers to renovate their homes. This coincided with the implementation of the land redemption policy, which greatly boosted the farmers' enthusiasm.

Farmers gradually felt a sense of accomplishment from these construction activities, and they realized that rural areas could indeed offer a decent living experience! This hopeful enthusiasm spread from one village to another.

Not only residential houses, but also public buildings such as irrigation canals and schools, have become the objects of competition among villages. Who wouldn't want their home to improve and outperform their rivals? Furthermore, the agricultural and forestry departments select 1000 of the best villages each year to receive awards, further boosting farmers' enthusiasm. Contributing to their hometown is an honor for them.

There were naturally some "losses" involved, but the results were very good. Living conditions improved, and farmers' enthusiasm was boosted again. However, agriculture involves more than just enthusiasm; other factors also play a role. In Iran, this also includes collective cooperation.

Before the Crimean War, 82% of Iran was mountainous and desert. The two largest plains were the lifeblood of Iran's agriculture—the southern Caspian Plain in the north and the Khuzestan Plain in the southwest.

Following the Crimean War, Iran regained the Baku Plain and seized the Georgian Plain. After the war with the Ottomans, it acquired the Mesopotamian Plain, and the conquest of Central Asia brought with it the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers and the irrigated farmland along their routes. These developments greatly benefited Iranian agriculture.

Naser al-Din placed great importance on these arable lands and repeatedly issued orders to protect agriculture. It was against this backdrop that the farmers of Tabriz were the first to unite, because they realized that individuals were powerless against middlemen, and only by uniting could they truly obtain profits for themselves.

Prior to this, this model had been approved by the Shah. Therefore, in 1856, the first agricultural cooperative was established in Tabriz, comprising 125 farmers. They successfully reclaimed their share of the profits from merchants, and this model was quickly imitated by surrounding villages, resulting in the formation of over 60 cooperatives.

However, with the proliferation of cooperatives, problems emerged, including price wars, cutthroat competition, and disruption of market order. The agricultural bureau repeatedly reported these issues, explaining the consequences of ignoring the problems. This ultimately prompted the government to decide to regulate and promote agricultural cooperative organizations.

In July 1863, the Agricultural Cooperatives Act was promulgated. It stipulated that all agricultural cooperatives would be directed by the national government and began to be promoted nationwide. By August 1865, agricultural cooperatives had established offices in every province, adhering to the "Three Supports" declaration—support for agriculture, support for farmers, and support for rural areas—and mobilizing farmers. At the same time, the principle of free entry and exit from cooperatives was upheld; farmers could not be forcibly recruited, and all members were required to undergo training and examinations before being allowed to work.

Naser al-Din visited the headquarters of the Tabriz Agricultural Cooperative, where the head, Araqi, briefed Shah on their achievements.

Of all the cooperatives, the Tabriz cooperatives produce 40% of the oranges and 52% of the grapes, helping a large number of farmers obtain the benefits they deserve and maintaining rural stability.

"Shah, this is our newly made grape juice, please have a taste."

Naserdin took a bite; it tasted pretty good. The cooperative's current achievements were beyond his wildest imagination, considering he hadn't personally experienced that era; everything was based on his memories and the experiences of the people, exploring and learning through trial and error to find its own model.

Significant progress has been made not only in fruit production, but also in grains, cotton, and wool. However, in terms of grain, Tabriz still lags behind Mazandran, which alone provides 47% of the nation's grain output. Mesopotamia has not yet fully developed its grain production, thus Mazandran has consistently been the nation's leading grain producer.

"Have you encountered any difficulties?" Naserdin asked.

"No, everything is moving in a positive direction. However, the elders do have some reservations..."

Naserdin feigned surprise and said, "I understand." This was exactly what he wanted to see.

The influence of the clergy in cities declined with industrialization, but they still held considerable power in rural areas. Naser al-Din first dealt them a blow with the civil war, then land policies reduced their financial strength, and agricultural cooperatives diminished their mobilization capacity. It seemed they didn't need to choose which would bring them more benefit.

Sometimes a bad land policy is worse than no land policy at all. Thanks to Pahlavi's textbook-perfect reform failures. Iran's natural conditions require a more secure approach to ensure agriculture, most importantly, destroying the clerics' ability to mobilize and turning villagers into loyal followers of the royal family. Then no one will dare to cause trouble.

Reporters around him continuously snapped photos of Shah mingling with the people, which were then published on the front page of the next day's newspapers. The people already held this approachable Shah in high esteem; whether in foreign affairs or domestic matters, Shah had led them to victory after victory. Their current standard of living was unprecedented; following Shah was all they needed.

(End of this chapter)