BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. More than 49,400 tons of tea leaves worth 4.44 trillion rials (about $106 million) have been purchased from farmers in Iran from the beginning of the current tea harvesting season in country (April 21, 2022) to May 31, the Chairman of the Iran Tea Organization, Habib Jahansaz said, Trend reports citing Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad.
Jahansaz said that about 44,700 tons or 90 percent of purchased tea leaves were 1st grade, while 4,730 tons or 10 percent - the 2nd grade.
“So far, 1.9 trillion rials (about $45.2 million) has been paid to the farmers for purchased tea leaves, which is 42.3 percent of the total amount,” he added.
The chairman also noted that 75 percent of tea leaves were purchased by tea factories and 25 percent by the Iranian Government Trading Corporation (GTC). Next week, the GTC will pay money to farmers for the tea they bought.
"More than 11,100 tons of dry tea was produced in the country from the purchased tea leaves," Jahansaz pointed out.
According to him, a total of 140,000 tons of tea leaves are expected to be purchased from farmers in the country this season, while last season, 135 tons of tea leaves were purchased from farmers.
The official stressed that there are 171 factories engaged in tea production in the country.
In Iran, some products such as rice, sugar beet, wheat and tea are purchased from farmers by the Government Trade Corporation (GTC) of Iran under a guarantee and paid for in installments.
The price of first-grade tea leaves is 92,000 rials (about $2.19), and the second-grade tea leaves are 71,000 rials (about $1.69) this season.
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