TEHRAN – Based on Iran’s seventh National Development Plan (2023-2027) the country plans to develop the cultivation of medical herbs in 300,000 hectares of natural landscapes, an official with Iran’s Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization said.

According to Tarahom Behzad, the organization had targeted the cultivation of medicinal herbs in 250,000 hectares of lands in the sixth National Development Plan, however, it was able to expand the cultivation of the mentioned plants to more than 491,000 hectares.

The development of medicinal plant habitats in the form of multi-purpose pasture plans using biological and biomechanical methods and avoiding any interference in the plants’ natural environment and change of use in pastures is considered in the seventh National Development Plan.

Back in June, the head of the agricultural commission of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) said some $550 million of medicinal herbs were exported from the country last year (March 21, 2023 to March 19, 2024).

Speaking on the sidelines of the 31st International Exhibition of Food, Food Technology & Agriculture dubbed “Iran Agrofood 2024”, Mohammad Ali Rezaei stated that Iran currently exports medicinal plants to European countries, China, and many Arab countries.

He added that 60 percent of these products are related to the export of saffron products while the other 40 percent belongs to the export of medicinal herbs.

The official put the value of medicinal plants exported from the country last year at about $550 million, Mehr news agency reported.

Given the high volume of precipitation witnessed in the current year (started March 21, 2024), it is predicted that more crops with higher quality will be harvested in the country in the current year (started March 21, 2024), he added.

EF/