Iran's saffron industry is flourishing, with over 25 tons of the precious spice exported to 37 countries in the first two months of the Iranian calendar year (March 20 - May 20), according to a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

Hossein Zeinali revealed China, the UAE, Spain, Afghanistan, and Italy as the top destinations for Iranian saffron. This translates to a value exceeding $22 million.

 

Iran's domestic production is also strong.

 

Zeinali stated that over 238 tons of saffron were produced last year, reaching both domestic and international markets. The cultivation area dedicated to saffron in Iran is vast, exceeding 127,000 hectares. Khorasan Razavi and South Khorasan provinces remain the leading producers within the country.

 

However, the Ministry of Agriculture is setting a new standard for efficiency.

 

Zeinali emphasized that areas yielding less than 5kg of saffron per hectare will no longer receive support for production. The Ministry views such areas as economically unsustainable and does not have plans to improve their output.