Iran announces plan to expand area under oilseed cultivation

The area under rapeseed cultivation in the country is
targeted to expand by 200,000 hectares for the current farming year
(September-August) to help meet demand for edible vegetable oils.

About 140,000 tons of rapeseed was harvested in the past
farming year; the area is set to be increased to 200,000 hectares for the
current farming year,” Sa’adollah Mansuri, the head of Iran’s Oilseed Project,
said.

He added that the country’s annual herbal oil extraction
currently meets 10 percent of the country’s domestic demand.

“Our production is expected to
double in the current farming year,” Mansuri said.

Rapeseed is one of the most important oilseed crops
worldwide and there is a great capacity for cultivating one of its
drought-tolerant genotypes, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
“Financial support and loans are available for farmers who are willing to grow
rapeseed,” Keshavarz said.

Pointing to the guaranteed purchases of the key crop, he
said farmers can sell any amount of the crop they produce. Each kilogram of the seed is priced at nearly
half dollar. Rapeseed farming started in
Iran in 1999. Last year cultivation workshops were held for farmers in nine
provinces.

The edible oil produced from the rapeseed is called
canola. Consumption of the oil is common
and is claimed not only to be completely safe for human and animal consumption,
but also to be among the healthiest of plant-derived oils, having relatively
low amount of saturated fat with high content of polyunsaturated fats. It is
also used as a source of biodiesel.