$11m in Weather Damage to Markazi Orchards

Some 3,210 tons of horticultural products worth 415.95 billion rials (close to $11.1 million) were damaged by hail and gale storms as well as a sudden fall in temperature that hit Markazi Province in central Iran about a fortnight ago, an official with Markazi Agricultural Jihad Organization said. “Bad weather affected 2,150 hectares of greengage, apricot, almond, walnut, grape, apple and pistachio orchards across the province,” Ali Asghar Zarei was also quoted as saying by IRNA.

According to the official, Markazi Province has 65,000 hectares of orchards, only 5,800 hectares of which are insured.