Oilseed Cultivation Expanded to Achieve 70% Self-Sufficiency

A total of 550,000 hectares of farmlands are estimated to have gone under oilseed cultivation in the current crop year (Sept. 2020-21) to yield close to 900,000 tons of different oilseeds, registering a 50% year-on-year increase, according to director of the Agriculture Ministry’s “National Oilseed Project”.
“Based on the Agriculture Ministry’s plan and provided farmers are encouraged to go along with it, it is estimated that 600,000 tons of colza will be harvested from 350,000 hectares, 200,000 tons of soybeans from 100,000 hectares and 100,000 tons of other kinds of oilseeds [including sunflower, safflower and sesame] from 100,000 hectares of farms across the country,” Alireza Mohajer was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
The official added that this year, 10 oil extraction factories have signed memoranda of understanding with the Agriculture Ministry, based on which they can sign contracts with farmers directly to purchase their products via “contract-based cultivation”.
“The aforementioned factories have made contract-based cultivation deals with farmers for colza, soybean and sunflower seeds to be cultivated on over 200,000 hectares of farmlands. These firms will be providing the required seeds, fertilizers and pesticides that farmers need for this amount of cultivation.”