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.
Kazem Khavazi gained the parliament’s vote of confidence on Wednesday with 196 lawmakers voting in his favor.
Iran has become the fourth producer of kiwifruit in the world as exports hit a record high of over $80 million a year.
The price of the Iranian saffron has stumbled to historical lows of $400-500 per kilogram as the new coronavirus pandemic hits major customers in Europe.
Iranian authorities say Saudi Arabia should do more to help fight a locust plague that could threat crops and food security in the Middle East and North Africa region.