Iran can reach self-sufficiency in wheat and sugar production

Iran has the capacity to attain self-sufficiency in wheat and sugar production, IRNA quoted Iran's State Commerce Organization's Managing Director Abbas Qobadi as saying.

"Currently, some half of the country's 2 million ton need to sugar is imported," Qobadi said, adding that through proper planning self-sufficiency will be attained.

Qobadi said in November that Iran has stored supplies of staple goods, which are sufficient for domestic consumption for a period of one and a half years.

Four staples goods have been stored in good enough amounts and five others are being stored, he added.

He referred to red and wheat meats and edible oil as among the staples goods.

Iran banned the export of around 50 basic goods, its media said on October 30, as the country takes steps to preserve supplies of essential items in the face of tightening Western sanctions.

However, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported in November that Iran is the 11th leading producer of wheat in the world in 2012.

According to the latest FAO report, "Crop Prospects and Food Situation," Iran's wheat production has reached 13.8 million tons in 2012.

The report added that Iran's wheat production in 2011 was 13.5 million tons and the country ranked at 13th place of world's largest wheat producers.

Among the major producers of wheat, the European Union (EU) with 130.8 million tons and China with 119 million tons are set to be the top two producers of wheat this year.

India has sealed deals to export 176,000 tons of sugar to Iran so far this year and a vessel with 32,000 tons of that, the last consignment, is being loaded at a southern port, Reuters reported in November.


/Trend/