The Iranian agriculture ministry (MAJ) says farming mechanization rate for wheat and barley has more than quadrupled in the country in 10 years.
MAJ’s head of farming mechanization department Karim Zolfaghari said on Monday that over 85% of the wheat and barley farming activities in Iran had been mechanized, up from below 20% reported a decade ago.
Zolfaghari said that the general farm mechanization level in Iran had reached 2.5 horsepower per hectare, a figure which he described as “desirable”.
He also said the number of domestic suppliers of tractors and agricultural machinery in Iran had reached over 350.
The official added that the higher farming mechanization rate and increased activity by domestic companies had helped Iran boost its farming productivity and improve environmental protection standards in its agriculture sector.
Zolfaghari said the MAJ has offered support for companies that produce the machinery needed for conservation agriculture, a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance and diversification of plant species.
He said prototypes of the machines used in conservation agriculture practices have been manufactured inside Iran based on the country’s local farming needs.
“By introducing conservation agriculture, the farmers will be able after three years to witness its impacts including water efficiency in their farms,” said the official.