BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. A total of 240,000 tons of persimmons were harvested and shipped to markets for local consumption and export from June 20 through October 28 in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, the deputy director of the Department of Agriculture of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province Ardeshir Shahraki told local media, Trend reports.
According to him, Sistan and Baluchestan province annually harvests more than 300,000 tons of persimmons on average.
Shahraki noted that 62,900 ha of palm orchards are existing in Saravan, Iranshahr, Nik Shahr, and Sib and Suran districts of Sistan and Baluchestan province. Of these, 49,700 ha are fertile.
The official stated that due to the high amount of seasonal rains in the current year, the number of dates harvested is expected to decrease.
He added that in addition to local consumption, dates grown in the province are exported to the Persian Gulf countries, European countries, and Russia.
To note, Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan province has 200,000 ha of cultivated land and 80,000 ha of horticultural land.