Remarkable achievements made in agro industry: Official
regions and also by cultivating products that require less water in those regions we could help preserve water resources while maintaining or even improving our production.”
In December 2018, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and Agriculture Ministry signed an agreement to increase agricultural production by 2.2 kilograms per square meter by 2026.
Iran is situated in a dry plateau with limited water resources. Tehran has been trying in recent years to lower water consumption in its agriculture sector by introducing new irrigation methods.
Pointing to the production of foodstuff, the official noted that in the poultry and fisheries sectors, the Agriculture Ministry has been promoting new methods of breeding and genetic engineering in order to increase the efficiency of production in this sectors.
“Iran is currently 82 percent selfsufficient in foodstuff while we were mainly an importer of agricultural and foodstuff products before the Islamic Revolution,” Taqavi said.
According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Abbas Keshavarz, the self-sufficiency rate in wheat production has increased from 65 percent in the year March 2013-March 2014 to 105 percent in the year which started on March 21, 2018.
In addition to meeting domestic needs, foodstuff constitute a significant part of Iran’s non-oil exports.
Dairy products, sweets, saffron, tomato paste, juices and concentrates, animal food, poultry and aquaculture, yeast, pasta, as well as flour and potato products are among the main items exported to world markets.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Taqavi pointed to the Halal industry and Iran’s position as one of the Islamic world’s most significant countries in this newly flourishing industry.
According to the official, despite the country’s great potentials and capacities, unfortunately Iran’s share in global Halal trade is a meager 0.7 percent.
“This is very unfortunate and the Agriculture Ministry plans to improve our position to a more desirable place in this lucrative industry.” he underscored.
Taqavi further noted that lack of a comprehensive organization which could be in charge for handling the Halal business and industry is one of the main reasons that Iran’s share of the Halal market is not what the country deserves.
The official mentioned holding an exhibition on the achievements of the country’s agricultural sector in the last 40 years.
Exhibitions on agricultural achievements which is due to be held during March 4-5 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds (Mosalla) will be a showcase for presenting Iranian agriculture sector’s achievements since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Subsidiaries of the agriculture ministry along with the private sector, startups as well as new technology-based firms and institutions will present their latest achievements and products in this exhibition.