Iran has no urgent need to import rice, official says  
 
 
Iran has no urgent need to import rice for now given ample domestic supply,   Deputy Agriculture Minister Alireza Mohajer said.  
 
 
“With this year's increase in production, the country's demand to import rice is nearly at zero," Mohajer said on Saturday.  
 
He also explained that the reason behind the halt of import is due to rise in hybrid rice seed production in the current year.  
 
"The government plans to use hybrid rice technology to produce quality rice and promote this method," Mohajer said.  
 
Based on official statistics, over 5.8 million hectares of Iran’s agricultural lands are under rice cultivation, mainly in Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan provinces.