An estimated 7,240 tons of medicinal herbs are produced annually in Khorasan Razavi Province, said Hashem Naqibi, managing director of the Horticulture Department at the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad. “The total area under cultivation of medicinal plants is 13,880 hectares of which 12,000 hectares are cumin farms,” IRNA quoted him as saying. Stating that 36% of all medicinal herbs are produced in the northeastern province, he said other herbs grown include damask rose, thyme, lavender, mallow, licorice, and mint.” Iran has a suitable and diverse climate for cultivation of herbal plants and is currently home to about 7,500-8,000 species.
