BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The area under herbal plants in Iran will be expanded by about 40,500 hectares for the current Iranian year (March 21, 2022 through March 20, 2023), an official, responsible for the 'herbal plants plan' of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of Iran, Hossein Zeynali said, Trend reports citing the ministry.
According to Zeynali, about 20,500 hectares accounts for arable land, while 20,000 hectares – for dry farming land.
The official added that saffron, Damascus rose, barberry, licorice, henna, thyme, anise, hawthorn and others are among the herbs that the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad intends to increase cultivation of.
He also noted that these herbs will meet the domestic needs of the country.
“In addition, in connection with herbal plants cultivation, a number of platforms will be developed this year. Thus, through the mentioned platforms, herbs will be cultivated under a contract, and then will be purchased from farmers based on their quality,” he said.
The area under herbal plants in Iran was about 270,000 hectares. An average of 360,000 tons of herbs are harvested in the country every year. About 70 percent of it is consumed in the country, while 30 percent is exported.
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