BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 18
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran plans to increase the area under olive gardens by 4,000 hectares in the current Iranian year (March 21, 2021 through March 20, 2022), an official, responsible for the 'olive plan' of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of Iran, Javad Mirarab Razi said, Trend reports citing the ministry.
According to him, in this regard, funds should be allocated and the necessary infrastructure should be created.
Mirarab Razi added that 500 million rials (about $12,000) is needed to plant per hectare of olive garden. About 80 percent of these funds will be provided by banks and 20 percent by farmers' own funds.
The official noted that Iran imports about 1,130 tons of olive oil a year. Olive oil is imported from Turkey, Spain, Syria and Italy.
"Consumption of olive oil in Iran has decreased due to the import of olive oil and the appreciation of foreign currency in Iran. So, the consumption of olive oil in Iran this year is 140 grams per capita. Meanwhile, two years ago, the figure stood at 200 grams per capita. But the average consumption of olive oil in the world is about 400 grams per year," he said.
As reported, Iran has 75,000 hectares of olive gardens. About 58,000 hectares of these gardens are productive and 17,000 hectares are unproductive. About 110,000 tons of olives are projected to be harvested in Iran within the current Iranian year (March 21, 2021 through March 20, 2022).
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