Hamed Kioumarsi, a researcher with Iran's Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), has been featured in a major Indonesian national magazine.
The interview, published in the Indonesian language, examines livestock development in Indonesia with a strong focus on advancing the sheep farming sector.
Kioumarsi stresses the urgent need to boost efficiency in livestock production systems.
He highlights the importance of optimized nutritional management, modern breeding strategies and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
At the same time, he emphasizes that sustainable progress cannot rely on technology alone.
Indigenous knowledge and the practical expertise of local farmers remain essential, he says.
When combined with scientific innovation, these elements help build resilient and productive agricultural systems that can withstand economic and environmental pressures.
Separately, one of the central themes in the discussion is the preservation and strategic improvement of native sheep breeds.
Kioumarsi explains that local breeds, shaped over centuries by natural and human selection, are uniquely adapted to regional climates.
Their strong disease resistance, efficient use of local feed resources and reduced reliance on high-cost inputs make them especially valuable amid growing climate change pressures on global agriculture.
He notes that as shifting weather patterns, rising temperatures and emerging diseases challenge livestock systems worldwide, the resilience of native breeds offers a critical pathway to climate-smart agriculture.
These animals support national food security while reducing environmental burdens by fitting naturally into local ecosystems.
To safeguard these benefits, Kioumarsi calls for well-designed breeding programs that strengthen desirable traits while protecting precious indigenous genetic resources.
According to Kioumarsi, investing in local breeds is not simply a cultural or historical responsibility—it is a strategic and scientifically grounded approach to building sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural systems for the future.
Meanwhile, the publication underscores the growing international scientific cooperation and the global relevance of findings by Iranian researchers.
The article, drawing on insights from Kioumarsi affiliated with the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center in Gilan, also references the potential of breeds such as Taleshi sheep in sustainable livestock development.