Tehran – Iran has introduced a new early-maturing, high-yield safflower variety aimed at expanding water-efficient oilseed production and strengthening the country’s edible oil self-sufficiency.

 

Developed by the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, the new variety, Chabok, yields up to 3 tons per hectare and matures about two weeks earlier than existing commercial varieties, allowing farmers to plant a second crop while reducing irrigation needs.

 

Institute head Mohammad Zamanian said the variety overcomes one of the biggest barriers to safflower cultivation, the long growing season of older cultivars, while offering higher productivity through improved plant architecture.

 

Researchers say the climate-resilient variety is expected to promote cultivation of drought-tolerant safflower, improve water-use efficiency, and reduce Iran’s reliance on imported edible oils.