Tehran – The Iranian Minister of Agriculture announced that the country’s agricultural exports have exceeded projections set in the Seventh Development Plan, which address the mobilization of financial resources to sustain economic growth.

 

“While the plan had forecast a 5.5% growth, the first year of the 14th government saw a 5.6% increase,” Gholamreza Nouri said during a recent meeting in the northern province of Gilan.

 

The growth covers a range of products, including sturgeon, raw milk, olives, and other agricultural commodities. Overall, exports rose by 32% over the past year, he added.

 

The minister highlighted improvements in the agricultural trade balance, noting a $3 billion adjustment over the last year. In the first four months of the current year, the trade balance improved by 4%, while exports grew 10.6%.

 

During his visit to Gilan, Nouri participated in the provincial agricultural council meeting and toured several key sites, including a 650-hectare olive orchard, the Aliabad International Olive Collection, and a 150-hectare olive farm in Khanlar, Rudbar County.

 

Gilan province, home to 314,000 hectares of agricultural land and 317,000 workers in the sector, is known for its diverse crops, including rice, tea, olives, silk cocoons, peanuts, hazelnuts, and citrus fruits. The province is also a major poultry producer.

 

Gilan stands out as the country’s largest producer of high-quality native rice varieties, with 238,000 hectares under cultivation. The province ranks first in paddy field area and second in overall rice output nationwide. Around 300,000 rice farmers in Gilan produce approximately 1.15 million tons of paddy rice annually, accounting for about 30% of Iran’s total rice production.