Baku, Azerbaijan, May 16
Trend:
The Iranian government is expected to purchase 10.5 million tons of wheat from the country’s farmers in the current crop year, started September 2017, Mahmoud Hojjati, the agriculture minister, said.
The forecasted volume will be 1.5 million tons more than the purchase wheat in preceding year despite the fact that the country is facing drought, Hojjati said, the ministry’s press office reported.
Iranian farmers have increased crop production, using the modern technology and adapting with the climatic conditions, the minister said, adding that the ministry plans and technical measures such as providing high yielding seeds, which are resistant to drought stress and pests, have improved the country’s agriculture sector performance.
He further said high-yielding and resistant wheat seeds are produced inside the country in cooperation with international institutions.
This year’s wheat purchases from local farmers at guaranteed prices has started on March 26 in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
More than 8.87 million tons of wheat worth 116 trillion rials (each US makes 42,000 rials) were purchased from Iranian farmers by the government last year. Iran’s wheat production reached 12.5 million tons in the period.
The country exported its surplus wheat to other countries including Iraq and Oman.
Over 52 percent of Iran’s agricultural lands are under wheat farming. Iran’s total agricultural lands are about 12 million hectares.
Almost 7.5 million tons of wheat is used by bakery units in Iran and the country’s food industry also needs 2.5 million tons of wheat every year.