Tehran - Iran has purchased more than 7.7 million tons of domestically grown wheat worth 155.9 trillion tomans (approximately $3 billion) through its guaranteed procurement program during the spring season, a senior agriculture official said.

 

Saeed Rad, Deputy Agriculture Minister and head of the Government Trading Corporation of Iran (GTC) said the government has purchased wheat from 594,000 farmers, totaling 1.55 million consignments through 1,140 procurement centers nationwide.

 

According to the official, Khuzestan province leads with 1.44 million tons, followed by Kurdistan (774,000 tons), Golestan (602,000 tons), Fars (587,000 tons), and Kermanshah (586,000 tons). "Farmers in these provinces have already received major payments, including 26.7 trillion tomans in Khuzestan, 10.9 trillion in Golestan, 9.9 trillion in Fars, 8.9 trillion in Kermanshah, and 8.4 trillion in Kurdistan."

 

Despite ongoing drought conditions, Rad projected domestic wheat production at 10 to 11 million tons this year on six million hectares of farmland, with about eight million tons expected to be procured under the government’s guaranteed purchase program.