BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
As many as 1.84 trillion rials (about $43.8 million) have been paid to tea farmers in Iran from the beginning of current Iranian year (March 20, 2020) to June 18, Chairman of Iran Tea Organization Habib Jahansaz told Mizan news agency, Trend reports.
According to Jahansaz, the remaining funds will be paid to farmers in the coming days.
The chairman added that so far, 54,000 tons of tea leaves have been purchased from farmers.
"More than 12,200 tons of dry tea will be produced from the tea leaves purchased in this volume. This is 8 percent more than in the same period last Iranian year," he said.
The official added that it is expected that Iran will produce 30,000 tons of dry tea this year.
Jahansaz stressed that over the past years, 500 hectares of tea plantations have been restored in the country, and this will help increase the production.
At present, the price of 1 kg of tea at the tea factories in Iran sells an average of 300,000-400,000 rials (about $7.1-$9.5). The maximum price of 1 kg of packaged tea is 700,000 rials (about $16.6), the official noted.
It is forecasted that in total, 130,000-135,000 tons of tea leaves will be purchased from farmers in Iran this Iranian year.
Currently, the price of first-class tea leaves is 46,000 rials (about $1.09), while the cost of second-class tea leaves is 33,000 rials (about 78 cents) per 1 kg.
In Iran, some products such as rice, sugar beet, wheat and tea are purchased from farmers by a state-owned company under a guarantee and paid for in installments.