Iran is in talks with Russia to outsource wood production to the forest-rich country, said the head of Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization affiliated with the Agricultural Jihad Ministry. Khodakaram Jalali added that apart from meeting the growing domestic demand, the move is also aimed at reducing water consumption in the agriculture sector amid the current water crisis in the country. According to the official, Iran consumes 6.5 million cubic meters of wood annually, 10% of which are imported in the form of medium-density fibers, paperboard and other wood-related products, while the rest is produced domestically, ISNA reported. Wood is a highly water-intensive product.
