Tehran – Khorasan Razavi province ranks first in Iran for both cultivation area and production of saffron, cumin, and asafoetida – three medicinal plants that generate significant foreign currency earnings, according to the head of the province's Agriculture Organization.

 

Majid Jafari said water scarcity remains the country's biggest production challenge, urging a shift toward crops that consume less water and yield higher returns.

 

He noted that Razavi Khorasan produced 180 tons of saffron last year, securing the province's highest forex revenues from the sector.

 

Jafari added that cumin and asafoetida – crops in which the province is a national leader – have gained strong traction among local farmers due to their profitability.

 

“The organization is now prioritizing the development of specialized production chains for these three plants, similar to the 18 poultry chains already established in the province, to attract large-scale investment.”

 

Jafari also emphasized branding as a key strategy, calling for support of Iranian brands so that saffron and other export-oriented products can reach international markets under domestic labels.