Rapid changes so far experienced in various socio-economic, political and technological fields on one hand, and other requirements e.g. developmental schemes, special rules and regulations in agriculture sector, annual budget act as well as Ministerial plans and projects on another, have made affiliated offices/units tackle with new conditions and adopt new actions and tools to promote their missions in the sector. To this end, regulation of ongoing codes and norms ruling on the work processes seems crucial strategy in managing threats and opportunities. The idea was undertaken by the Dept. in 2001 leading to amendments in certain codes and instructions of the working processes and improvement of operational procedures.

The new decision involved many ideas and perspectives pledged by the Dept. and employed updated techniques and capacities shared by various offices, private consultants and the following pinpoints:

• Acts, policies and guidelines associated with agribusinesses including:

- Supreme Leader’s insights, National Services Act, Road Map for renovation of Administrative System, The 5^th National Development Plan, Annual Budget Act, Higher Productivity Act in Agriculture and Natural Resource, Animal Farming System Act, Article 44 in Constitution, etc.;

- Prioritization and derivation of core standards, codes and conducts in favor of improved operational processes, facilitated investments and cultivation, better service rendering to applicants, higher productivity and accountability to official authorities;

- Maximum utilization of ICT towards mechanization of working processes;

- Interaction and cooperation with Agricultural Engineering System Organization, experts and others;

- Participation of all horticultural levels in formulation of operational rules and guidelines followed by close monitoring on their sound implication;

Scopes and plans in the Formulation Group of Codes and Conducts

Main Scope:

- Designing and setting Formulation Network of Codes and Conducts for improved operational processes in the Dept. using updated techniques and means;

General Scopes:

• Identification and derivation of codes and conducts plus executive instructions in the Dept. premises;
• Discovering and prioritizing the main mission and vision in the Dept. ;
• Division of the works and leveraging participation amid the line offices and staff for group-working;
• Identification, training, empowerment and hiring competent and enthusiastic staff in formulation process of codes and conducts
• Involvement in articulation of rules and regulations for related agro-business enterprises;
• Holding training courses, applied-scientific seminars and meetings for enhanced know-how amid trainees/invitees;

Group Domain:

- The Group extends its impression in all affiliated offices/units of the Dept. for Horticulture including national/ provincial or district offices, private/public sectors and in unions/coops;

Terms of Reference for the Formulation Group of Codes and Conducts:

1. Policy-making, planning and coordination in production and supplying certified seedlings to meet developmental initiatives requirements;

2. Planning for production and supplying commercial geminative parts;

3. Programming and coordination on employing new technical know-how for higher and quality production of strategic seedlings;

4. Procurement of needed facilities for tissue-culturing practice by private sector

5. Coordination and supervision on due supplying and distribution of certified seedlings and other germinative parts in private sector or relative agencies based on approved codes and conducts and supported by possible subsidies/facilities allocation;

6. Coordination with Plant Protection Org. / AREEO under National/Provincial Joint Seedlings Committees for hygienic controlling of nurseries and stock orchards in production of germinative parts supported by applied-research activities;

7. Bedding for close interaction with certified seedlings growers and international institutions to enhance practical knowledge of this business;

9. Compiling viable plans in supplying primary cores and orchards for breeding virus–free and commercial cultivars needed by mother orchards;

10. Soliciting and analyzing provincial reports to eradicate bottlenecks and challenges faced in production process;

11. Cooperation in balancing the seedling market accompanied by rising quality and performance;

12. Coordination and action on shaping organization of seedlings/tissue-culture practitioners;