Iran’s pistachio production to see major rise, official
says 

Iran’s pistachio production in the current Iranian calendar
year (ends on March 20, 2024) is expected to rise two-fold, according to a
member of Iran Pistachio Association.

“Estimates show that between 200,000
and 210,000 tons of dry pistachios will be produced on 450,000 hectares of
lands this year, which is a two-fold increase compared to last year,” Jalil
Karbakhsh Davari said.

He added, “Considering this figure, we have the possibility
of exporting pistachios worth 1.5 billion dollars a year.”

The Islamic Republic was the second biggest exporter of
pistachios to Europe after the United States in the mentioned six months.

Over the past decade, climate change has caused severe
drought in Iran, leading to 85 percent of the country being classified as arid
or semi-arid. The decline in annual average rainfall and shortage of surface
water has forced farmers to dig more wells to pump water from underground
reserves. Nearly half of the 750,000 wells dug in Iranian farms are illegal,
which indicates why the unconstrained use of underground water in agriculture
is the main source of water waste in the country.