How did the decline of agricultural productivity contribute to discontent in Iran?

The decline of agricultural productivity significantly fueled social discontent in Iran during the 1960s and 1970s, primarily as a consequence of the White Revolution.

While the shah’s land reform program aimed to redistribute land to small-scale cultivators, the government failed to establish a necessary support system or infrastructure to replace the role of traditional landowners, who had previously provided tenants with essential farming resources. This lack of support led to a high failure rate for new farms.12

The resulting agricultural instability had several profound effects:
* Rural-to-Urban Migration: Faced with failing farms, many agricultural workers and farmers fled to major cities, particularly Tehran, in search of employment.12
* Urban Hardship: These new migrants often found themselves isolated and living in poor conditions, struggling with high prices and the deterioration of their traditional extended family support systems.12
* Political Disenchantment: These unemployed and working-poor migrants became a significant base of opposition, turning to the ulama for guidance and fueling the protests that eventually led to the 1979 revolution.34