Iran major land reclamation project yields 3.5 million-ton boost in agricultural output

 

Tehran – The first phase of Iran’s major 550,000-hectare land reclamation project in the provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam has led to a 3.5 million-ton increase in agricultural production during the current Iranian calendar year, according to the CEO of the Jihad Nasr Institute.

 

Mohammad Derakhshanifar highlighted the impact of Phase One - spanning 295,000 hectares - which he said has delivered a range of transformative outcomes for Iran’s agricultural sector.

Key achievements include a 3.5 million-ton rise in agricultural output compared to the baseline year (2011); Significant improvements in water and soil efficiency; 885 million cubic meters of water saved overall, equating to 3,000 cubic meters per hectare; Creation of nearly 300,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly; Increased value-added agricultural production; Reverse migration from urban areas to rural communities; and Revitalization of rural economies and infrastructure 

Derakhshanifar noted that out of the 295,000 hectares developed in Phase One, 46,000 hectares were equipped with pressurized irrigation systems, while the remaining areas benefited from gravity-fed and low-pressure systems, improving water distribution and crop yields. 

Addressing the project’s impact on wheat production, he said that Khuzestan’s annual wheat output has grown from 916,000 tons in 2011 to 1.7 million tons in 2024, reflecting an 87% increase. In Ilam province, wheat yields rose from 130,000 tons to 320,000 tons - a 143% increase - over the same period.