Sistan-Baluchestan – Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province supplies 99.5% of the country’s domestic banana production, as authorities have launched a plan to achieve banana self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports.

 

Alireza Dehmardeh, head of the provincial Agricultural Organization, said Zarabad County, known as the “Banana Capital of Iran,” produces around 360,000 tons of bananas annually, making the province the country’s leading hub for tropical agriculture.

 

Iran’s annual banana consumption stands at about 900,000 tons, with the production gap currently covered through imports. Under the newly developed National Banana Self-Sufficiency Plan, the government aims to expand banana cultivation by 5,300 hectares and boost domestic supply.

 

The province currently has 13,516 hectares of banana plantations, with major production areas including Zarabad, Chabahar, Dashtiari, Konarak, Rask, Qasr-e Qand, and Sarbaz.

 

Dehmardeh said expanding banana production could significantly reduce foreign currency spending, noting that Iran imported 592,646 tons of bananas worth $390.7 million in 2025.

 

He added that the banana industry is also a major source of employment in the region, providing direct jobs for more than 40,500 people. Locally produced bananas are supplied to markets across Iran and are recognized for their high quality due to limited use of chemical pesticides.

 

To improve productivity, agricultural research centers are promoting tissue culture technology for healthier and more efficient banana propagation.