Iran (IMNA) - The surge in production has led to a substantial reduction in wheat imports and a boost in exports, generating over $1 billion in revenue.
Nikbakht announced on Sunday that Iran's agriculture output had reached 131 million metric tons by the end of the calendar year to March 20, up from 110 million metric tons in the previous year. The increased domestic production has allowed the government to cut wheat imports from 7 million metric tons to 1.8 million metric tons over the same period.
The minister attributed the growth to the government's efforts to increase domestic supplies and reduce reliance on imports. He noted that Iran's wheat purchases from domestic farmers had reached 10.3 million metric tons in the past year, up from nearly 4 million metric tons in the previous year.
In addition to increased wheat production, Iran has also seen a significant rise in agrifood exports, which reached over $1 billion in the past year. The added value in the agriculture sector has also seen a significant improvement, increasing by 0.6% in the June quarter compared to minus 4.6% in the same quarter last year.
The country has also become a net exporter of certain farming products, including poultry. Iran exported 8,000 metric tons of chicken and 50,000 metric tons of eggs in the seven months to late July.
The Iranian government has introduced policies to encourage increased activity in its manufacturing and agriculture sectors in recent years, despite facing US sanctions that restrict its access to foreign trade. Experts say these measures have paid off, as Iran has been able to generate more hard currency from exports while boosting employment rates for its youth population.
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