28 Mar 2024
Saturday 15 July 2017 - 15:50
Story Code : 268381

Rouhani leads Irans return to wheat exports

Al-Monitor | Maysam Bizaer: Iran is among thetop wheat consumersin the world.Consumption per capitain the country is estimated at 167.6 kilograms(369 pounds) per year, almost three times the global average of some 67 kilograms (148 pounds). At the same time, Iran is one of the driest countries in the world, with an average rainfall of only 250 mm (10 inches)a year, causing huge water shortages across the country. This has turned the supply of wheat to meet domestic needs into one of the main concerns of successive governments, forcing reliance on imports at major costs.

Areview of importsshows that Iran over the past 15 years spent some $12.6 billion on buying more than 42 million tons of wheat. Meanwhile, the country has simultaneously sought to attain self-sufficiency, which on occasion has led to success in either reducing or almost halting imports. However, these achievements were not sustainable, mainly due to mismanagement and climate conditions.

In 2004, under the presidency of ReformistMohammad Khatami(1997-2005), Iran marked self-sufficiency in wheat production for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Khatami administration also formulated a10-year planthat outlined initial steps to reduce imports, and envisioned strategies aimed at sustaining production intimes of drought. The plan, however, was put aside under the administration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) and the country once again became reliant on imports to meet domestic needs, buying over25.7 million tonsof wheat during his two terms in power.

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