Zahedan – Sistan and Baluchestan province has witnessed a significant boost in agricultural exports and a sharp decline in reliance on imports over the past 10 months, according to Alireza Dehmardeh.  

A total of 1,504,596 tons of agricultural products were traded through the province's seven plant quarantine centers (Milak, Pishin, Mirjaveh, Gamshad, Chabahar, Rimdan, and Zahedan), a 17,000-ton increase compared to the same period last year.

A key factor in this positive trend has been the dramatic reduction in banana imports.  Imports plummeted from 86,054 tons in the first 10 months of the Iranian calendar year 1402 to just 25,991 tons in the same period of 1403 – a roughly 70% decrease.

Dehmardeh attributed this decline to government support policies for domestic producers, aimed at reducing import dependence.  "We are striving for self-sufficiency in banana production in Sistan and Baluchestan," he said.

Exports have also seen substantial growth.  Agricultural exports reached 294,257 tons in the first 10 months of 1403, a 16.8% increase year-over-year.  This surge, Dehmardeh explained, reflects the improved competitiveness of Iranian agricultural products in the global market and rising international demand.

Dehmardeh emphasized the success of the government's support policies, noting that the combination of decreased banana imports and increased exports demonstrates their effectiveness in bolstering domestic production and reducing import reliance.

However, he stressed that continued progress requires further investment in infrastructure, improvements in product quality, and the development of new export markets to achieve long-term goals.