TEHRAN – Iran’s total cereal production is predicted to reach 20.1 million tons in 2017 to register a 0.9 percent increase compared to the previous year, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in a report.

The report, called “Crop Prospects and Food Situation”, said the country produced 19.9 million tons of cereal in 2016.

According to the data provided, during the mentioned period Iran’s wheat production level will stay steady at the last year’s 13.5 million tons which exceeded the five-year average by 25 percent.

The country’s paddy fields are estimated to produce more rice in 2017 compared to the previous year. As the report said, Iran is predicted to produce 2.6 million tons of rice in 2017 to top last year’s 2.5 million tons by 100,000 tons.

The country’s cereal stocks are probably going to follow last year’s pattern and continue falling during 2017. Iran’s cereal stocks fell by 200,000 tons in 2016 from 6.5 million tons in 2015. It is likely that the figure further falls during the current year to settle at 5.4 million tons.

EF/MA