Efforts are underway in Iran to reach self-sufficiency in the production of cotton through increased support for farmers, according to a senior official with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Chief contractor for Iran's ministry of agriculture's Cotton Project Ebrahim Hezarjaribi said on Monday that supportive programs for cotton cultivators is being implemented in Iran, including the use of micro-irrigation systems, no-till farming, cheap loans for harvester purchases, and encouraging the use of early-growing varieties of cotton.
He said that in more than 70% of countries in the world, subsidies are given to cotton farmers so that they can benefit from the added value of the crop.
This official said that the average cotton yield in Iran has reached above 3,000 kg/hectare.
Hezarjaribi added that cotton production in Iran doubled over the five years of the country's the Sixth National Development Plan which ended two years ago, adding that raw cotton production increased from 150,000 metric tons (mt) to more than 300,000 mt.