Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 1/ Trend M. Moezzi
Iran has announced plans to add 35,000 hectares to the country's almond orchards, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports.
Given the drought conditions over the last few years, the Agricultural Jihad Ministry is focusing on reducing irrigated orchards, further developing rainfed orchards and rebuilding second grade ones said Rahmatollah Parichehr who heads the Agricultural Ministry's fruit department.
Iran's 170,000 hectares of cultivated orchards place it after Australia, the U.S. and Tunisia.
Worldwide, the almond production yields three to four tonnes per acre each year. In Iran that level stands at one tonne per hector which requires planning and foresight.
The Chaharmahal and Bakhtia province claims the most land under cultivation for almonds in Iran.