A conservational agriculture center, a joint project between Iran and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, was launched in the city of Safiabad in the southern Khuzestan Province’s Dezful County. Deputy Agriculture Minister Eskandar Zand, who also doubles as the head of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, said the ministry will work in collaboration with CIMMYT to upgrade wheat systems and produce new varieties of seeds for Iran’s hot and cold climates, IRNA reported. CIMMYT, based in Mexico, is one of 15 independent, international, non-profit agricultural research centers that make up the CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research). The centers host almost 10,000 scientists, researchers, technicians and staff working to create a food-secure future. CGIAR’s research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources. Iran has been self sufficient in wheat production for two years now and only imports wheat for flour export purposes. Based on FAO’s report released earlier this month, Iran’s wheat production in 2018 is forecast to stand at 12 million tons, which will indicate an 11.1% decline compared with the estimated amount of 2017. Iran produced 11.1 million tons of the crop in 2016.
