Tehran – According to a senior official with the Agriculture Ministry, some 11 million tons of wheat have been purchased from Iranian farmers at guaranteed prices in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 20).

Sohrab Sohrabi said the Iranian government has purchased some 11 million tons of wheat worth over $193 billion from farmers so far in carrying out a national plan that guarantees the purchase of domestic production of the crop.

This represents a 17% increase compared to the same period last year, with an additional 1.613 million tons procured, he added.

The provinces of Khuzestan, Golestan, Kurdestan, Fars, Kermanshah, Hamedan, West Azarbaijan, Razavi Khorasan, Lorestan, and Zanjan were among the top ten provinces in terms of wheat procurement.

Harvesting operations are still ongoing in provinces with colder climates, such as Kurdistan, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Markazi, East Azerbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Zanjan, Ardabil, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, North Khorasan, and Lorestan.