16% increase in pistachio production performance in Iran in 2021

Darab Hassani, Director General of the cold and dried fruits
affairs office of the Ministry of Jihad-Agriculture, stated: Climate change is
a serious environmental challenge around the world, and the agricultural
sector, due to the prevailing conditions in it, is more affected by these
climate changes than other sectors, and the pace of change has increased
significantly over the past decade.

He then added that: According to the mentioned changes,
among horticultural species, pistachio has a higher potential for adaptation
and tolerance to climate change and several executive-research measures have
been taken to reduce the effects of these changes, especially on the
cultivation of this species.

The director general of the cold and dry fruits affairs
office of the Ministry of Jihad-Agriculture pointed out that: Among the activities
and researches which were executed, the following can be introduced: various
irrigation optimization methods, basic development of surface and subsurface
drip irrigation systems, development of low pressure subsurface irrigation
systems, elimination of unnecessary irrigation in the dormant season of trees (in
areas non-saline) and the repair and modification of water transmission and
distribution lines in the gardens.

 Hasani also told: It
has been shown that the use of these methods increases production by 21 to 100
percent, increases water consumption efficiency by 36 to 213 percent, and
reduces water consumption by 25 to 50 percent.

The director general of the cold and dry fruits affairs
office of the Ministry of Jihad-Agriculture clarified that: With the measures
taken, despite the occurrence of climate change and very unfavorable water and
soil conditions in most areas of pistachio production, the study of production
and yield per unit area during the past years confirms the increase in
production per unit area and the average yield per unit area of ​​740 Kg/ha in
2014 has increased to 859 kg/ha in 2021, which shows a 16% increase.

Source: Public Relations Center of the Ministry of Jihad-Agriculture

Translator: Fateme Khalil Khalili