Sohrab Sohrabi, the director of the Iranian Agriculture Ministry’s wheat and rice project, has announced that rice has been cultivated on 650,000 hectares of land across 19 provinces in Iran. The majority of this cultivation is concentrated in the northern provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, where rice is grown on an extensive 550,000 hectares. This large-scale cultivation reflects the significant role these regions play in Iran’s rice production.
For the current calendar year, which started on March 20, Iran has set a target to produce up to 2.5 million tons of rice. To support this goal and enhance domestic rice production, the Iranian government has begun providing farmers with essential resources, including seeds and fertilizers. However, Sohrabi mentioned that due to the country’s limited water resources, there are no plans to expand rice cultivation beyond the northern provinces. This cautious approach aims to manage water usage sustainably while meeting production goals.
Masih Keshavarz, the secretary of Iran’s Rice Exporters, Suppliers, and Importers Association, previously reported that Iran’s annual rice consumption reaches approximately 3.6 million tons. Domestic farmers contribute over 2.0 million tons of this total, with the remaining quantity—between 1.2 and 1.5 million tons—sourced through imports. This balance of domestic production and imports is essential to meet the country’s rice demand and ensure a stable supply for consumers.
Source: Menafn
