'Administration Reports of the Persian Gulf, 1945 [-1946]' [‎35r] (82/414)

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Qpi\m> The opium crop was not below normal but the
Finance Department were able to collect only 4,800 kilos
during the year which was 2000 kilos less than the amount
collected the previous year. It is said that this was due
to the visits of a succession of Inspectors sent from Tehran
to assess the opium crop, taking their 'rake off*. The Gov-
-ernment purchased pure opium from cultivators at Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
1000/- per 5 kilos and after adulterating it sold it to the
public at Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 2000/- per 3 kilos.
All pistachio trees were severely damaged by the
frost and great loss was suffered by cultivators. The price
of pistachios rose from Rials 60/->er maund to Rials 280/-
at which level it remained more or less throughout the year.
Over 20% of the entire fruit crop was also damaged
from the same cause.
Locusts . Between March and June large swarms of locusts were
reported to have settled in Rudbar,Jiruft, Baft, Narmshir, Bam
and other wa rm areas in which hoppers appeared later. The
anti-locust unit stationed at Bandar Abbas took necessary meas
ures to combat it and Aqai Fazlulah Bahrami, the Ustandar,
appealed to all landowners affected to cooperate in destroying
the hoppers a nd the summer crop was effectively saved from
damage from this cause.
(e) Education Department .
Dr.Muzaffar Baqai was Director of Education,Kerman,
from Janua ry until the 16th July when he proceeded to Tehran
on leave. Aqai Ahmad Ahra m, who since April had been sent by
the Ministry of Education to inspect the work of the Department
in the 8th Ustan, officiated in his absence until the 25th Sep-
-tember when he was recalled to Tehran and relieved by Aqai
RarfrirayyKgyanrawt Ali Naqi Bahmanyar. On the 22nd October Aqai
Rahbar Ka srawi a rrived from Tehran in the capacity of Head of
the Education a nd Waqf Department and held charge of the appoint-
-ment until the end of the year.
Whilst Dr.Baqai was directing the affairs of the
Education Department he had serious differences with Aqai Afzal
Roohi (brother of Aqai Ataulla h Roohi, deputy for Kerman) whom
he a ccused of mismanagement of Waqf properties and of not co-
-operating with him. Aqai Roohi was suspended as a result, by
Aqai Ahram, but was reinstated shortly after through the in-
-fluence of his brother the deputy. Dr.Baqai was then recalled
to Tehran and finally retired from the service of the Department
in September.
In addition to the six primary schools established
last year in the province ten additional primary schools were
opened in Bam, Sirjan, Zerend, Bandar Abbas and Rafsinjan.
Of 10,274 boys and girls in the Primary and Sec
ondary schools of the Ustan 4596 are in Kerman , and suburbs.
In the entire Ustan there are now 34 Night Schools with 54
classes of which 11 are in Kerman. The total number of students
attending these classes ia 1010 of whom 381 are in Kerman.
During the year a Teachers* Training School to
instruct pupils up to the 4th Primary Class was opened at Bam
and Bandar A bbas. The young men and women who pass out are
sent to outlying villages and towns. The former Kerman Primary
Norma 1 S chool has been converted into a boarding school and
accomodates 58 students.