MASHHAD – Iran's northeastern Khorasan Razavi province is taking major steps to complete the value chain of strategic agricultural products, particularly saffron and medicinal plants, as part of efforts to curb raw product sales and increase value added in the agricultural sector.

 

Ali Akbar Izadi, director of horticulture at the Khorasan Razavi Agricultural Organization, said a series of pioneering and strategic initiatives have been launched this year to better organize production and strengthen the saffron value chain across the province.

 

One of the most significant measures, he said, is the establishment of a six-hectare saffron mother farm, officially licensed for the first time to produce standardized, certified and disease-free saffron corms.

 

“Moving beyond the sale of raw agricultural products and directing production toward higher value-added activities is a key priority,” Izadi said.

 

He added that, following efforts to secure the necessary permits, officially licensed sorting and packaging facilities have been established in the counties of Zaveh and Fariman, accelerating the shift from bulk sales toward processing, packaging and the production of higher-value saffron products.

 

Turning to the development of medicinal plants amid growing climate challenges, Izadi said the organization’s strategy focuses on expanding the cultivation of low-water-demand and drought-resistant species, including asafoetida.

 

The initiatives form part of broader efforts by Khorasan Razavi to modernize the production and marketing chains of its strategic horticultural products while maintaining its leading position in the production of Iranian green cumin.