Page 53 - IRANRptDec21

Iran’s poor wheat harvest highlighted as IGC cuts forecast for world
Government Trading Corporation chief ‘confirms drought-hit Iran’s wheat imports set to reach record level’
Iran’s saffron exports reach $60mn in first seven Persian months
The quarantine authorities of the two countries have been notified of violations of phytosanitary requirements. Consultations were held to solve the identified violations, and a list of Iranian and Pakistani enterprises exporting potatoes was compiled in accordance with phytosanitary requirements.
It turned out that potatoes from Pakistan were mixed in Afghanistan with potatoes grown in other countries and used as feed products.
"With the spread of nematodes in Uzbekistan, there is a risk of a reduction in the yield of potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers and other melons, which may eventually lead to a transition to genetically modified vegetables resistant to these pests, as well as the disappearance of local vegetable varieties," a representative of the agency told RIA Novosti.
According to official data, Uzbekistan now annually imports about 400,000 tonnes of potatoes. The figure is up sevenfold from 2016.
Most potatoes in January-July came from Iran (119,000 tonnes, or 38.5% of total imports).
Pakistan was ranked third (75,500 tonnes, 24.4%), behind Kazakhstan (85,000 tonnes, 27.4%).
The International Grains Council (IGC) has cut its forecast for 2021/22 global wheat production, with a downgraded outlook for the crop in Iran a particular concern.
In its monthly update released on November 18, the inter-governmental body lowered its 2021/22 world wheat crop outlook by 4mn tonnes to 777mn tonnes. For Iran, which this year suffered its worst drought in 50 years, the crop estimate was cut to 11.5mn tonnes. The previous estimate was for 14mn tonnes.
Iran has this year been importing substantial wheat consignments from Russia to address its wheat harvest deficit.
Iran’s Government Trading Corporation (GTC) chief has reportedly confirmed that the country’s wheat imports are set to reach a record level in the Persian calendar year ending next March amid the impact of severe drought on domestic crops.
GTC head Yazdan Seyf was on November 3 reported by PressTV as saying that Iran has imported around 3mn tonnes of wheat since the start of the calendar year on March 21. He was further cited as saying that Iran would need to import another 5mn tonnes of wheat in the remainder of the Iranian year to ensure supplies would meet domestic demand and that purchases of wheat from domestic farmers reached 4.5mn tonnes at the end of the harvesting season in September.
Some commentators in Iran have blamed the government’s low guaranteed purchase prices (GPP) for wheat for much of the sharp fall in domestic wheat production, with the problem then exacerbated by drought conditions. Production has fallen by more than half within a couple of years.
However, Seyf was quoted as saying that a GPP of IRR 75,000 ($0.27 at the free market exchange rate) for wheat from Iranian farmers in the next harvesting season (starting May 2022) would be on a par with international prices.
Russia has provided the bulk of the wheat imported by Iran to make up for its domestic shortfall.
Iran’s saffron exports reached $60mn during the first seven months of the current Persian calendar year (March 21-October 22), according to Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).
In the last Persian year, full-year exports of the spice were worth $190mn.
53 IRAN Country Report December 2021 www.intellinews.com