Iran’s annual crop production is expected to reach 97 million tons out of a total 130 million tons of agricultural output, a senior Agriculture Ministry official said on Sunday, warning of fertilizer shortages due to limited foreign currency allocations.
Majid Anajafi, deputy minister for crop production, told a meeting with members of Iran Chamber of Commerce agriculture commission that the country needs about 30,000 tons of fertilizer but only 10,000 tons have been imported so far.
“The allocation of foreign currency for this sector is being done drop by drop, and this has caused concern for farmers,” Anajafi said, calling for timely provision of inputs to sustain production levels.
He added that petrochemical producers had been expected to supply one million tons of urea fertilizer to the domestic market last year but preferred exports instead of meeting local demand.