Iran’s minister of agriculture Kazem Khavazi says the country’s tree plantation for timber drive has seen a massive boost in the current calendar year with some 30 million plantations recorded across the country.
The Iranian government is planning to expand Sistan-Baluchestan’s banana plantations from current 5,000 hectares to 7,000 hectares in cooperation with the private sector. The Agriculture Ministry has estimated that a total of 150,000 tons of bananas will be produced in the province this year.
Iran’s government has bought 8.22 million tons of wheat worth 207.8 trillion rials ($755 million) from local farmers across the country in the current fiscal year (started March 20).
Iranian agriculture authorities say plans are in place for tree plantation in 320,000 hectares of lands to respond to a rising demand for timber which is currently being met through extensive imports.
Around 86% of Iran’s agricultural activities are carried out by small-scale farmers and only a meager 14% are undertaken by large agricultural corporations that yield better harvests as well as higher economic profit.
Figures by Iran’s customs office (IRICA) shows the country earned over $241 million from exports of various summer-grown fruits and vegetables in five months to late August.
Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) has set up a special task force on the trade of saffron to help boost its export. Iran Chamber of Commerce is a member of the task force.
Iran exported $211.64 million worth of dates to 85 countries in the last Iranian year (March 2019-20), according to the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Iran’s Agriculture Ministry says it is expecting wheat production to exceed 14 million tons this year.
Iran has earned over $5.8 billion in foreign currency revenues from its agrifood sector over the past calendar year ending late March. The main export items over the period included pistachio, apple, tomato and watermelon.