Introduction

Abstract

This chapter gives a general introduction of the book. It provides a perspective on the important role that the agricultural sector plays in developing societies’ growth and development. This sector is needed for increasing crop production so that countries can meet the food and clothing needs of their increasing populations. Therefore, policy priorities for the agriculture sector include a quantitative analysis of production for increasing crop production. In this regard, Iran needs to increase the domestic production of industrial crops in two possible ways: first, by increasing the area under cultivation and second, increasing yield per unit of land. Due to limited supply of arable land and production inputs, the first alternative is not practical. Therefore, increasing industrial crop production from the land already under cultivation seems to be a better solution. In other words, if Iran can increase the amount of Industrial crop produced from one hectare of cultivated area, its total production will increase. This chapter also provides the main goals, assumptions and questions of the study that the rest of the chapters address.