The import of barley, not including barley corn, increased by 129 percent in the first eight months of the current year (March 21-December 21, 2014). According to the Customs Administration Office, over the period about 971 thousand tons of barley, worth $278 million, were imported, which accounted for 0.81 percent of the country’s total import. The volume of barley import has risen 129 percent and its value has increased 77 percent, ISNA reported on Sunday. Agricultural Jihad Minister Mahmoud Hojjati has said Iran plans to increase its wheat and barley production in cooperation with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). “We need to cooperate with FAO as Iran is facing water shortage which certainly affects the country’s agriculture sector,” he said at a meeting with FAO’s representative in Iran, Serge Nakouzi, in October.
