Tehran - The Director General of the Office of Forecasting and Control of Harmful Agents at Iran’s Plant Protection Organization has announced that 800,000 tons of wheat seed have been treated since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year 1404 (ends on March 20).

 

Akbar Ahangaran highlighted the strategic importance of the operation, describing seed treatment as the most fundamental tool in the preventive management of crop pests and diseases.

 

He noted that the measure is particularly critical for controlling seed-borne pathogens that can cause serious yield losses if left unchecked.

 

Focusing on smut diseases, Ahangaran issued a strong warning, stating that seed disinfection is the only available chemical control method for smut in cereal crops.

 

He explained that once infection appears during the growing season, after plants have become established in the field, no effective chemical control options remain. Under such circumstances, farmers inevitably face significant losses.