Baku, Azerbaijan, May 6
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran needs to import 2.5 million metric tons of wheat in the current Iranian fiscal year, which began on March 21, said Ali Qanbari, the Iranian deputy agriculture minister.
Wheat reserves are sufficient for over six months, he said, adding that reserves of other staples, such as edible oil, rice, and sugar are sufficient for more than 3 months, Iran 's Mehr news agency reported May 6.
By May 5, over 700,000 metric tons of wheat, worth around $300 million, has been purchased from domestic farmers in nine provinces of Khuzestan, Fars, Kerman, Ilam, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Sistan-Baluchestan, Kermanshah, and Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad, a 10 percent rise year on year, he noted.
Wheat production in Iran is forecast to hit 11 million metric tons in the current Iranian fiscal year.
Esmaeil Esfandyari, the Iranian deputy agriculture minister, said on April 7 that one million metric tons of wheat more than the past year would be purchased from farmers in the current year.
Therefore, 7.7 million metric tons of wheat will be purchased at a guaranteed price of 11,550 rials (about $40 cents) per kilogram, he added.
Edited by CN