Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran has regained its status as the top pistachio producer in the world, surpassing the U.S.
Mohammad-Hassan Shamsfard, chairman of the Iranian dried fruits exporters union, said that Iran's pistachio production rose by around 30,000 tons in 2015, ranking the first worldwide, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Sept. 25.
"The government sector and the private sector of Iran have put the country's pistachio production at 220,000 tons and 230,000 tons, respectively, while U.S. pistachio production has been announced to be around 180,000 tons," he said.
Iran exports between 150,000 tons and 160,000 tons of pistachio per year, he said, adding that exports will be increased in the current year.
A major portion of the U.S. pistachio production is consumed inside the country, he noted.
Iran also has the largest acreage of land dedicated to pistachio plantation, spread over more than 20 provinces in the country.
Up to 70 percent of Iran's pistachio crop comes from Kerman Province, which has an ideal climate and soil for growing the nutty fruit. The province, however, is grappling with years of drought that has affected farming.
Ali Mohseni, an official with the Iranian agriculture ministry, said in May that Iran exported 180,262 tons of pistachio worth $1.62 billion last year. Those exports marked a 50 percent rise both in terms of volume and value.
Edited by CN