Iran Says Agricultural Imports Cut by More Than Half as Sector Expands

Iran (IMNA) - Gholamreza Nouri told the ILNA news agency on Sunday that agricultural imports reached about $8 billion in the calendar year to late March, down from $19 billion reported in the previous year. “We reduced the currency needed for imports of basic goods by $11 billion last year without creating any debt,” he was quoted as saying.

Nouri said Iran achieved complete self-sufficiency in production of agricultural products such as sugar and red meat in the past calendar year. He added that the agriculture sector expanded by 3.2% in the year to late March and that the share of agriculture in gross domestic product rose by one percentage point to 7%.

The minister said agricultural exports increased by 33% in the year to March and that the country narrowed its agricultural trade deficit from $11 billion to $8 billion over the same period. He also reported a 4.5% improvement in agricultural productivity and a 0.7% increase in the mechanization rate in the year to late March.

Government figures show agricultural output of more than 130 million metric tons. Data released by Iran’s customs office in April indicated the country exported about $5.2 billion worth of agricultural products, including $1.5 billion worth of pistachios, in the year to March 20 — up 29% from the year before.