Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct.28/ Trend R.Zamanov
Some 44 tons of saffron worth $63 million have been exported from Iran's north-eastern province of Khorasan Razavi in the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year which started March 21, the IRIB News Agency reported.
"The province's exports account for 82 per cent of the country's total saffron exports in term of value and 81 per cent in term of weight," Provincial Governor Mohamadhossein Frouzanfar stated.
He went on to saying that 75 per cent of the province's total output is being exported and the rest used domestically.
European countries such as Germany, Austria, and Spain are the main destinations for Khorasan Razavi province's saffron exports.
Iran exported some 135 tons of saffron worth 419 million dollars in the previous calendar year which ended March 20.
The figures show a 14 and 11.5 per cent increase in terms of value and weight respectively in comparison to its preceding year, the IRNA News Agency quoted him as saying.
Iran currently exports saffron to 41 countries.
The Iranian administration has developed a plan for raising the annual saffron output to 500 tons by 2021. The plan has envisaged boosting exports to over $1 billion by 2021.
Due to its diverse climate and fertile soil, Iran's agricultural products are rated among the best in the world with its saffron standing second to none.
Around 300 tons of saffron which is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus are produced worldwide each year, with Iran, Spain, India, Greece, Azerbaijan, Morocco and Italy accounting for the largest shares, Press TV reported.