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Iranian horticultural exports to hit $3B

Business Materials 12 December 2015 18:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 12

By Fatih Karimov- Trend:

Iran is predicted to earn some $3 billion from exports of horticulture products this year, Ramazan Rouintan, an official with the Iranian agriculture ministry said.

Iran's horticultural exports accounted for $2.8 billion during the last fiscal year (ended on March 21), Rouintan said, ISNA news agency reported Dec. 12.

The heavy tariffs set by Iraq and Russia on Iranian agricultural products has lead to fall in exports in recent months, the official said.

Some negotiations were held on the reduction and elimination of the tariffs, he said, adding it seems that the problem is settled.

Earlier Mohammad Ali Tahmasbi, deputy head of the Iranian agriculture ministry's gardening affairs said that pistachios, dates, pomegranates, apples, kiwifruit, raisins, saffron and tea constitute the bulk of the horticulture exports, which have risen notably in the past three years.

Last year, Iran produced more than 16 million tons of fruits, vegetables and herbs, asserting its first place for pomegranate harvest, the third for dates, the fourth for kiwifruit and the fifth for figs for a second year in a row, he said, citing UN figures.

The country exported $6.6 billion worth of agricultural products in the last Iranian fiscal year (March, 2014-2015), meanwhile, agricultural imports amounted to $12 billion during the period, a nine percent fall compared to its preceding year.

Agriculture in Iran accounts for about one-fourth of the gross national product and employs about two-fifths of the labor force.

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