Colza Production Expected to Double

Colza production is expected to reach 200,000 tons in the next Iranian year (March 2017-18), double the amount of production this year, according to Alireza Mohajer, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture.

The official explained that close to 25% of colza farms in the north of Iran were damaged by frost this year.

“Now over 140,000 hectares of land are under colza cultivation,” he was quoted as saying by Eranico.

Mohajer noted that it is estimated that 150,000 tons of soybeans and 50,000 tons of other oilseeds, including sunflower seeds, sesame and safflower, will be produced next year.

The ministry plans to achieve 70% self-sufficiency in the production of oilseeds within the next 10 years to keep imports of oilseeds and vegetable oil in check.

Per capita vegetable oil consumption in Iran is about 18-19 kilograms a year. The global average is 12 kilograms.