Tehran - Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture is rolling out stabilized cropping patterns in orchards to counter the impacts of climate change and water scarcity, according to the director-general of Cold and Dry Fruits Affairs Department of the ministry.

 

Dariyoush Salempour called this approach a “smart strategy” that combines scientific planning with traditional local knowledge.

 

These cropping models are being developed in various regions by factoring in technical and economic criteria, regional potential, and suitable crop varieties, while prioritizing resilience to drought and other environmental stresses, he added.

 

“Aligned with national policies and Iran’s Seventh Five-Year Development Plan, the initiative shifts production away from water-intensive crops toward drought- and heat-tolerant varieties with higher economic value. In some cases, orchards are being relocated to areas with better growing conditions”.

 

Salempour noted that orchard owners are increasingly focusing on high-value, climate-resilient crops such as pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and oleaster.

 

He estimated walnut production this year at 250,000 to 300,000 tons across roughly 180,000 hectares.