BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran provides a loan of 1.6 billion rials (about $38,000) for the cultivation of Allium stipitate or Persian shallot per hectare in the current Iranian year (March 21, 2021, through March 20, 2022), an official, responsible for the 'herbal plants plan' of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of Iran, Hossein Zeynali told IANA, Trend reports.
The official noted that loans are issued at 4 percent for a period of 5 years. In addition, 200-400 million rials (about $4,760 - $9,520) are provided to farmers as invaluable financial assistance for the cultivation of the crop.
Zeynali added that Persian shallot is one of the most neglected herbal plants in Iran in recent years, and due to this reason, it is even in danger of extinction.
“In this regard, the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad has been paying special attention to the plant for the past three years. Over the next few years, the plant is expected to be as profitable as saffron,” he said.
According to the official, over the last Iranian year (March 20, 2020, through March 20, 2021), Persian shallot was planted on 1,500 hectares of land in Iran.
“Meanwhile, this year, the area is expected to increase to 2,000 hectares. The herb is mainly grown in Iran’s Isfahan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Lorestan, Kurdistan, and Kermanshah provinces,” he said.
Zeynali also pointed out that Persian shallot is more widely used in countries around the Persian Gulf. The focus is on increasing the export of the plant to the mentioned countries. Iran exported $80,000 worth of Persian shallot last year.
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