Tehran – East Azarbaijan, northwest of Iran, has retained its position as Iran's largest lentil-producing province, supplying nearly a quarter of the country's total output, according to provincial agricultural authorities.

 

Jalal Rahimzadeh, Director of Crop Production at the East Azarbaijan Agricultural Organization, said more than 24,000 hectares have been cultivated with lentils during the current crop year. With favorable growing conditions, the province is expected to harvest around 13,000 metric tons, accounting for approximately 25% of Iran's total lentil production.

 

He highlighted Varzaqan County as the province's principal lentil-growing region, noting that it contains more than 60% of East Azarbaijan's lentil cultivation area.

 

The county alone is forecast to produce over 10,000 metric tons this season, reinforcing its key role in meeting domestic demand and strengthening Iran's food security.

 

Rahimzadeh described lentils as one of the province's most important rain-fed crops, citing both their economic value and environmental benefits. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, lentils naturally enrich soil fertility, improve soil structure, reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, and enhance the productivity of cereal crop rotations, contributing to more sustainable farming systems.