Zahedan – Farmers in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan have so far harvested approximately 6,000 tons of apricots, with total production projected to hit 10,000 tons by the end of the season, a provincial agricultural official announced.

 

Saeed Naroui, head of horticulture at the Sistan and Baluchestan Agricultural Organization, said 1,033 hectares of orchards in the province are currently planted with apricots.

 

“Of this area, 940 hectares are bearing fruit, while 93 hectares remain non-productive.”

 

Harvesting began in late May and will continue until early July, Naroui added. The apricots supply local markets and are also shipped to other provinces across Iran.

 

Thanks to the region's favorable climate, the province produces high-quality apricots suitable both for fresh consumption and for processing into dried fruit and other food products, he noted.

 

The official named Taftan, Mirjaveh, Khash, and Zahedan as the leading apricot-producing counties.

 

“The main varieties grown include Shekar Pareh, Red Shahroud, Qeysi, Tehrani, Mashhadi, and several high-quality local cultivars.”