BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. Iran supplies most of the rice consumed in the country through local production, Iranian Deputy Agriculture Minister Akbar Fathi told local media, Trend reports.
According to him, the country has produced 2.6 million tons of rice this year. Given that the country needs 3.5 million tons of rice per year, it is necessary to import 800,000 tons.
Fathi noted that the average rice consumption per person in Iran is currently 36 kilograms.
The deputy minister added that the country imported 400,000 tons of rice during six months of the current Iranian year (from March 20 through September 21, 2024). The country plans to import 400,000 tons of rice by the end of the year. India and Pakistan are the main importers of rice into the country.
He emphasized that the price of 1 kg of high-quality rice in the country is currently at least 900,000 rials (about $1.96). The country imports rice at a minimum cost of 450,000 rials (about $0.98).
Meanwhile, Iran produces on average more than 130 million tons of agricultural products per year.
The total area of agricultural land in Iran is more than 12 million hectares.