Markazi - Markazi Province, in the center of Iran, has established itself as Iran's leading hub for medicinal plants, with its cultivation area expanding forty-fold to over 4,000 hectares, a provincial official said.

 

"The province is positioned to become the national center for both production and processing," said Ahmad Asadi, Director of Horticulture at Markazi’s Agricultural Organization.

 

He added that annual production now exceeds 8,000 tons of key crops including saffron, damask roses, and herbs such as cumin and lemon balm.

 

Saffron cultivation alone covers 600 hectares, yielding about 2,800 kilograms annually. Laboratory analysis confirms that many plants from the region exceed national and global averages in active medicinal compounds, boosting export potential.

 

While current processing focuses on rosewater and herbal syrups, officials highlight untapped potential for high-value products like essential oils and extracts from lavender, borage, and thyme.

 

"Our goal is to localize the entire supply chain, from farm to market, to retain value, create jobs, and increase foreign currency earnings," Asadi said.