Tehran – Iran’s Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri marked the start of the new crop year with a message of resilience and ambition, reporting a turnaround in the sector’s performance and outlining plans for greater self-sufficiency in key products.

 

Addressing a national gathering of senior directors at the Summit Conference Hall in Tehran on Sunday on the occassion of the new crop year, Nouri announced that agriculture had moved from - 4.4% contraction to +3.2% growth over the past year, with exports climbing 32% and the trade deficit narrowing by $3 billion.

 

He added that agriculture’s contribution to the national economy had risen by nearly one percentage point.

 

“Despite drought, reduced rainfall, and a sharp cut in foreign currency allocations for essential imports, the minister emphasized that no food shortages or queues occurred, thanks to tighter financial discipline and efficient market management.”

 

He also highlighted the government’s success in regulating holiday markets while addressing $5 billion in inherited debt.

 

Among last year’s production gains, Nouri pointed to growth in sugar (+27%), cage fish farming (+12%), sturgeon (+27%), raw milk (+5%), tropical fruits (+54%), and fertilizers (+15%).

 

He also noted a 22% rise in subsidized input distribution in rural areas and a 46% improvement in land dispute settlements in cooperation with the judiciary.

 

Looking forward, Nouri pledged to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar, bananas and other tropical fruits, and red meat by the end of the current administration.

 

These goals, he said, will be pursued through modern technologies and higher efficiency in water use: “At present, 1,000 liters of water produce 1.3 to 1.4 kilograms of crops, but new methods can achieve the same with just three liters.”

 

Nouri also linked food security to international crises, warning: “Hunger in Gaza shows how food is being used as a weapon. We must rely on our own comparative advantages to strengthen our trade balance rather than depend solely on imports.”

 

The minister outlined the ministry’s top priorities as supporting farmers to make agriculture profitable, ensuring fair distribution of resources, combating corruption, raising productivity, and enforcing crop patterns to stabilize markets and safeguard vital resources.

 

“Now is the time to work for Iran’s prosperity. Iran stands with dignity, and we will safeguard this legacy for future generations," he concluded.