A total of 1,945,421 tons of wheat were unloaded from 122 vessels at Iranian ports during the first half of the current fiscal year (March 21-Sept. 22), according to Farhad Montasar-Kouhsari, the deputy head of Ports and Maritime Organization.
Stressing that imports of wheat are carried out mainly through maritime transport, the official noted that about 1.8 million tons of wheat are expected to be imported via ports in the month ending Oct. 22.
“A total of 6 million tons of wheat will be produced domestically, suggesting that the country needs to import 5 million tons of wheat in the current year [ending March 20, 2022], given the annual demand for 11 million tons of wheat,” he was quoted as saying by Pmo.ir.
Some 5 million tons of wheat were purchased by the government from local farmers during the last crop year (September 2020-21), showing a 30% decline compared with the previous year, according to the deputy head of the National Wheat Farmers Foundation.
“Farmers have kept part of their harvest to use as seeds for the next crop year, but the Government Trade Corporation purchase centers will be open until November for farmers who change their mind and decide to sell their reserved yields since the government has provided enough seeds this year,” Aliqoli Imani was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
The official said the current year’s crop year will soon begin and some farms in the country’s colder regions are to go under cultivation over the next few days.
The government, through its commercial arm GTC, buys essential crops from local farmers at guaranteed prices to build up its reserves and control the wheat market.
Imani noted that every year around 6 million hectares of land go under wheat cultivation, 4 million hectares of which are rain-fed and the rest are irrigated.
“We have proved over the past crop years that we have the capacity to produce between 14 million and 15 million tons of wheat every year. This figure is more than the domestic demand and can be reached every year by implementing correct policies, proper management and the timely supply of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides,” he said.
“Our domestic demand currently stands at 11 million tons per year. Some 9 million tons of this goes to supply the country’s bread and the remaining 3 million tons are used in industrial and pastry factories.”