Financial Tribune- More than 1 million tons of rice worth $963 million were imported into Iran during the five months to August 22, registering a 79% and 102.5% growth in weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year.

With more than 696,000 tons, India was the main exporter followed by Pakistan, the UAE, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq, ISNA reported.

Imports are taking place while every year and during the rice harvest season, the government bans rice imports in support of local farmers and domestic production.

�The ongoing seasonal ban on rice imports will be in effect until Nov. 21,� Deputy Agriculture Minister Yazdan Seif recently said, noting that the ban went into effect in August.

Traders who have already registered orders can import their cargos after the deadline. During the ban period, no imports will take place, Mehr News Agency quoted Seif as saying.

Abbas Keshavarz, also a deputy agriculture minister, said nearly 2.3 million tons of rice have been produced in the country in the current Iranian year (started March 21).

Iranians consume 3 million tons of rice a year. The two northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran are home to a majority of Iran�s paddy fields.