Wheat self-sufficiency to continue

TEHRAN, Apr. 03 (MNA) – Deputy agriculture minister, while reporting on exports of 250 thousand tons of wheat and flour, said Iran will remain self-sufficient in production and exports of wheat. “Necessary permits have been issued for exports of three million tons of wheat and its products,” said Ali Ghanbari adding “relevant negotiations are underway with neighboring and regional states as well as that several buyers are after purchasing Iranian wheat and flour.” The official said a contract had been inked to export 250 thousand tons of the products through stocks market saying “final agreements have been reached as a deal has been sealed.” He named Iraq, India and Oman as destinations of the wheat sold through stocks market. Iran’s deputy agriculture minister also reported on talks with Iraq over exports of about 600 thousand tons of wheat explaining that the Iraqi side has made the proposal to purchase Iranian wheat. Ghanbari, while pointing to the high demand for the Iranian product, said no limitations exist in this regard which offers an excellent opportunity to the country as regards exports of the agricultural product. In a bid to shed light on the raised arguments that global wheat prices are lower than domestic ones, the official noted “all countries in the world support their agriculture; wheat marks a strategic product we spare no effort to provide farmers with necessary assistance in order to realize policies of Resistance Economy.” In view of present conditions, Ghabanri expected to observe continuation of self-sufficiency in production and exports of wheat inside the country. He further estimated that approximately 13 to 14 million tons of wheat will be produced in the present Iranian year 11 million tons of which will be purchased by Government Trading Corporation of Iran.