A top Iranian government official has claimed the country would need to import wheat in the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21, local reports have said.
Iranian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee Secretary Zabihollah A’zami was quoted by the reports as saying that this has been necessitated by severe drought that has significantly reduced the production of the crop.
He said: “Although our strategic wheat stocks are currently in good condition, it must be put on the agenda to meet the future needs through imports.”
According to the Agriculture Ministry data, so far 4.463 million tons of wheat have been purchased from farmers.
That number may reach a maximum of 4.6 million tons, given that this year’s production is expected to be significantly lower than the previous year.
The official further put the country’s minimum demand for wheat in the current year at 6 million tons.
He said: “Latest statistics show that the country may need to import 8 million tons of wheat this year.”
Iran’s wheat production exceeded 14 million tons in the previous Iranian calendar year 1399, and 14.5 million tons the year earlier.
However, the country is currently suffering a drought that has led to protests in several regions, most so in the Khuzestan province.