Cotton Production to Meet 50% of Domestic Demand

Domestic demand for cotton stands at 120,000 to 130,000 tons per year in Iran and between 60,000 and 65,000 tons of which are expected to be produced domestically in the current fiscal year (started March 21).
Ebrahim Hezarjaribi, the head of the Agriculture Ministry's Cotton Project, also told Mizan Online, “This year we will be able to meet 50% of domestic demand. Plans are to become self sufficient in cotton production within the next six years.” 
As reported by Fars News Agency, the official noted that 86,880 hectares have gone under cotton cultivation this year, which shows a 23% increase year-on-year.
The main provinces producing cotton in Iran are Golestan, Khorasan Razavi, Ardabil and North and South Khorasan.
Iran was once an exporter of cotton, besides meeting its own domestic demand. But the situation changed, as land under cotton cultivation in the country declined by 75% from 300,000 to 70,000 hectares during 2001-16.