Birjand – Cumin has emerged as a strategic crop for South Khorasan Province, playing a pivotal role in boosting farmer incomes and promoting agricultural sustainability in Iran's arid and water-scarce regions, the head of the province's Agriculture Organization announced.

 

Speaking at a cumin harvest thanksgiving ceremony, Mohsen Esfandyari emphasized that the event was far more than a symbolic ritual.

 

"It is an opportunity for dialogue among farmers, researchers, and agricultural experts—bringing together local knowledge and scientific findings," he said.

 

Esfandyari noted that South Khorasan's distinctive climatic conditions make it highly suitable for expanding low-water crops, with cumin at the forefront. "This crop has secured a special place in the province's cropping pattern," he added.

 

The official highlighted cumin's exceptionally low water requirement, explaining that compared to many conventional crops grown in the region, cumin consumes significantly less water. In years with sufficient rainfall, he said, the crop can be produced even without irrigation—a critical advantage from a water resource management perspective.

 

Esfandyari outlined several key benefits of cumin cultivation for local farmers, including a short growing cycle, low production costs, strong resilience to climatic conditions, and high economic value. Together, these factors have made cumin an increasingly attractive option for growers across the province.

 

Pointing to the crop's export potential, Esfandyari said that developing international markets for cumin could play an effective role in revitalizing rural economies and increasing the incomes of agricultural operators. "For this reason, supporting the processing, packaging, and branding of this product is firmly on our agenda," he stated.

 

The official concluded that South Khorasan possesses rare and valuable capacities in the field of medicinal plants. "Cumin deserves more attention than ever as one of the main pillars of knowledge-based and economically viable agriculture in this province," he said.