Iran’s fruit export is expected to reach four billion dollars this year, a deputy agriculture minister said Wednesday. Annually, 16 million tons of horticulture products are produced at 2.3 million hectares of gardens across the country. The agriculture ministry is working to boost pistachio exports as part of the government’s plan to balance the total trade, Mohamadali Tahmasebi told IRNA. The ministry is working to modernize irrigation systems, and, therefore, is providing 6.5-million-rial ($2,000 based on street rates) loans to gardeners for this purpose. Iran’s main horticulture exports include barberry, saffron, raisin, pistachio, fruits, vegetables and cucurbitaceous.
