Iran can now meet 90% of its domestic need for pulses and it is estimated that in the new Iranian year (started March 20), 700,000 tons of the edible seeds will be produced from 825,000 hectares of farmland, according to Kaveh Khaksar, director general of Agriculture Ministry’s Bureau of Cereals and Main Crops. It is estimated that this year 280,000 tons of chickpeas, 270,000 tons of beans and 100,000 tons of lentil will be produced. As for other kinds of pulses, such as broad beans, production is expected to reach about 63,000 tons. “The plan is to attain self-sufficiency and start exports within the next few years as per the sixth five-year development plan (2016-21),” he was quoted as saying by IRNA. Five-year development plans are medium-term roadmaps designed by the government to help achieve sustainable growth. Iran also aims to reach self-sufficiency in the production of rice, barley, wheat, corn, cotton, sugarbeet and oilseeds.
