Iran's Deputy Agriculture Minister for Horticulture Affairs highlighted the significant contribution of horticultural products to the nation's export economy, representing about 50% of annual agricultural exports with a value of approximately $3.0 billion. The country dispatches nearly three million tons of these products to over 100 countries each year. With around three million hectares dedicated to gardens, Iran boasts an annual production of nearly 26 million tons of horticultural commodities. Despite achieving self-sufficiency in most fruit types, Iran still imports four tropical fruits—banana, pineapple, coconut, and mango—due to insufficient domestic production to meet demand.
The official emphasized Iran's minimal use of chemical inputs in agriculture, noting that the country's pesticide usage is significantly lower than the global average, with less than one liter per hectare compared to the worldwide consumption of over 2.5 kilograms or liters. Highlighting regional agricultural strengths, he mentioned Mazandaran province as a key citrus production area, yielding three million tons of citrus fruits annually, and pointed out Iran's position as the fourth-largest kiwi producer globally, thanks to contributions from Mazandaran and Gilan provinces.
Source: Tehran Times