Iran Reports 32% Growth in Agricultural Exports

TEHRAN (Iran News) During a visit to the cities of Ahar and Heris, Nouri met with local officials and representatives of agricultural cooperatives, where he praised the region’s cultural heritage and the historical significance of Arasbaran. Referring to notable figures such as Sattar Khan, Sheikh Shahab al-Din Ahari, Ayatollah Borqa’i, and Ayatollah Najafi Ahari, he described the area as one of Iran’s cultural and civilizational hubs. “Many educators, judges, and judicial staff in northwestern Iran come from this region and have left valuable contributions,” he said.

Nouri emphasized that during his visits to local production units and development projects, he observed strong engagement from committed investors actively involved in various links of the agricultural value chain. “Each of these investors plays an essential role in strengthening the sector,” he noted.

Outlining the current priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nouri said its main mission is to devise sound policies that guide the agricultural sector based on the country’s available capacities and production resources. “Producers must remain financially viable for production to occur—production that is both economically feasible and profitable, not an activity that wastes the producer’s time and capital,” he said.

According to Nouri, all agricultural policies under Iran’s 14th administration follow a justice-driven approach aligned with the guidelines of the Supreme Leader and the President. These policies apply to all levels of production, from small rural units to large integrated chains.

Discussing the supply of animal feed, Nouri reported that feed distribution efficiency increased by 22 percent last year, while total feed consumption rose by 20 percent. He added that more than four million tons of animal feed are currently positioned at the country’s entry points—an achievement he said was made possible by precise planning and timely procurement by the ministry.

Despite having only one-third of last year’s foreign currency budget, Nouri said the ministry has ensured the uninterrupted supply and rapid distribution of feed to livestock and poultry farms. “This timely provision has prevented disruptions and maintained production stability,” he stated.

Turning to market regulation policies, Nouri said pricing decisions were made with the primary goal of protecting producers. For the first time, he noted, the Ministry of Agriculture’s proposed prices were approved by the National Market Regulation Headquarters without modification. “Producers cannot shoulder the burden of government subsidies. Their activity must be economically sustainable,” he said. Among the ministry’s achievements, he cited defending cost-based pricing for poultry and eggs, ensuring fair wheat pricing, and expediting payments to farmers.

Nouri also highlighted significant gains in agricultural trade. Over the past year, Iranian agricultural exports grew by 32 percent, improving the sector’s trade balance from minus 11 billion to minus 8 billion dollars. He pointed to the recent reception of Iranian apples in the Philippines—celebrated with a public street event—as an example of strengthened international market presence. “These advances reflect active diplomacy and precise policies aimed at improving quality and expanding export opportunities for farmers and orchardists,” he said. “Exports ”

Addressing concerns about product safety, Nouri emphasized that Iran ranks among the world’s healthiest producers in terms of fertilizer and pesticide use. He said Iranian agricultural products have successfully passed some of the strictest technical standards in Europe and Russia. Only one pistachio shipment recently encountered technical issues, which were resolved swiftly through coordination with the European Union.

He added that 23 pesticide varieties have been removed from domestic use, and the government is planning to import higher-quality pesticides from advanced countries to enhance crop health and safety. “Exports ”

Regarding technical oversight, Nouri stressed that the goal of deploying inspectors is to boost knowledge and technical performance at production facilities—not to impose additional costs. “Their presence must generate technical value-added,” he said. He further noted that no decisions are made by the ministry without the participation of agricultural sector associations and that all policies aim to ensure profitability, preserve food independence, and strengthen agriculture as a strategic sector.

In closing, Nouri announced that the government has recently launched and expanded “Rural Markets,” a new distribution initiative. “In recent months, 350 rural market units have opened, and we plan to increase this number to 3,000,” he said. The network will be managed by producer cooperatives to ensure that the highest share of profits returns to farmers.