Iran keeps global market for nuts, dried fruit
Tehran (ISNA) - Iran exported $950
million worth of dried fruit over the course of eight months since March 2017,
the head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran says.
Pistachio nuts were the most important
export item which brings the country $1 billion-$1.2 billion in hard
currency revenues a year, Mojtaba Khosrotaj said on Saturday.
Exports of the split-shelled nibble,
however, dropped 22% in the first six months of the current Persian year, failing
to match the figures during the same period a year ago when most of the produce
was exported, Press TV reported.
“Given that exports of other dried
fruit items have grown, it is anticipated that the deficit will be offset
by the end of the year,” Khosrotaj said.
Head of the Iran-China Chamber of
Commerce Asadollah Asgaroladi said 250,000 tonnes of pistachio nuts are
produced a year, of which 150,000-160,000 tonnes are exported.
Iran is the world’s biggest
pistachio exporter, a position it has maintained thanks to the premium quality
of its crop in the face of stiff rivalry from the US.
Asgaroladi put dried
fruit exports at 2 million tonnes a year, citing dates another important
export crop. He said Iran produces 2 million tonnes of the crop a year, of which
200,000 tonnes is exported.
Overall, Iran produces 117 million
tonnes of agricultural products a year, with horticultural crops accounting for
30 million tonnes of the figure.
Because of its unique ecology and
rich soil, Iran is one of the largest fruit producers in the Middle East and
North Africa, where the diversity of climatic zones makes it possible to
cultivate an assorted group of crops.
The Iranian plateau is believed to
be the homeland to a number of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants such as
Persian walnuts, pomegranates, peaches, spinach and tulips.
According to Iranian officials, as
many as 240 million people across the region savor Iran’s horticultural
products, primarily pomegranates, pistachios, saffron, figs, raisins and dates.
The country is the world’s seventh
largest producer of citrus fruits, including a variety of oranges, tangerines,
limes and lemons.
Agricultural exports exceed $6
billion a year, where horticultural products account for half of the earnings,
with livestock and poultry coming next with a share of about 25% and crops with
the other 25%.
Agriculture accounts for 13% of
Iran’s GDP and over 20% of its employment. The sector has traditionally been
the key source of food and livelihood security over millennia despite losing
much of its significance since the country struck oil.
author: D-Ezatiyan - Date: 1/9/2018