The production of 135,000 tons of fresh tea leaves is estimated in Iran in the current fiscal year that started on March 20, to register a 10% increase compared with that of last year, says the head of Iran Tea Organization.
"A total of 30,000 tons of processed tea will be derived from this,” Habibollah Jahansaz was quoted as saying by Young Journalists Club, adding that the latter figure shows a 5% rise year-on-year.
The official noted that tea harvest is due to begin in Gilan and Mazandaran, Iran’s tea cultivation provinces, in the coming days.
“Based on the latest figures, Iran’s domestic demand for tea stands at 105,000 tons per year, some 30% of which are supplied domestically.”
Earlier in April, the government set guaranteed prices for tea purchases at 46,000 rials ($0.28) for top-quality tea leaves and 33,000 rials ($0.20) for other varieties of leaves for this year’s harvest, which show a 27.7% and 50% increase respectively compared with last year’s prices.
Every year, the government buys strategic crops, including tea, wheat, sugarbeet, barley, cotton boll and oilseeds, from local farmers at guaranteed prices to control prices in the domestic market and fill its strategic reserves.
“Farmers are pleased with prices announced by the government this year. Moreover, tea factories can purchase tea at higher prices based on quality, so there is also competition in the market,” Habibollah Jahansaz was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Last year’s tea harvest season ended in October 2019 and the government purchased 126,753 tons of green tea leaves from local farmers for 3.43 trillion rials (over $21 million).
“About 28,519 tons of processed tea were derived from this amount of purchases, showing an 11% rise compared with the similar period of last year,” Jahansaz told Mehr News Agency.
The official attributes production growth to favorable weather conditions, government support in granting cheap loans and increasing guaranteed purchase prices.
The crop undergoes three harvests a year: the spring harvest that starts in late April, the second in summer begins early June and the last one is in autumn and starts late September.
Iranian tea is exported as well and its main destinations are India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Canada, Australia, Spain, the Czech Republic and Georgia.
