Golestan - A delegation of national and provincial officials, researchers, and experts recently visited the Salicornia cultivation site in Gomishan County, in the northern Golestan Province, to assess the progress, challenges, and prospects for expanding this salt-tolerant crop in the region.

 

Mr. Ranjbar, a researcher at the National Salinity Research Center, highlighted the urgent need to enhance research efforts due to current limitations in the availability of seeds for salt-resistant plants, emphasizing the unique benefits of Salicornia, particularly its oil-producing species, noting that this variety contains over 88% unsaturated fatty acids, making it a valuable edible oilseed.

 

Mr. Mahghani, Deputy for Crop Production Improvement at Golestan’s Agricultural Organization, also expressed optimism about scaling up Salicornia cultivation in the province. He stressed that Golestan is increasingly affected by dust storms, and cultivating salt-tolerant plants like Salicornia could serve as an effective measure to mitigate this environmental challenge.

 

He further explained that a nationwide project to identify and cultivate salt-resistant plants is underway in seven provinces, aiming to promote sustainable agricultural production in saline and arid areas.