IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (6 June)
Wheat and barley are the main crops cultivated during the winter period in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Agro-meteorological conditions during March-April continued to be favourable for winter crops and close to the previous year. Harvesting of barley was completed in March, while harvesting of wheat has just commenced. Tentatively, 2005 output is forecast at 14.5 million tonnes of wheat, 500 000 tonnes higher than last year’s record production, and 2.8 million tonnes of barley, some 100 000 tonnes above last year’s level.
The country achieved record production in 2004, after a bumper crop in 2003, and made the country close to self-sufficient in wheat for the first time in recent years. The production increases are mainly due to Government support (guaranteed procurement prices, supplying higher yielding seeds, improving machinery services, augmenting fertilizer usage and enhancing water systems and pest management practices) and favourable weather conditions. Based on the anticipated 2005 production, the 2005/06 wheat import requirement is forecast at 249 000 tonnes, slightly above last year’s low level. Total cereal import is forecast at some 3.3 million tonnes.
A strong earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck south-eastern parts of Iran on 13 March 2005. Some 22 000 people were affected by the quake, but damage was insignificant.
The International Federation of the Red Cross together with the Iranian Red Crescent Society continue assistance with the reconstruction and rehabilitation following Bam Earthquake in December 2003, which killed over 26 000 people, injured over 30 000 and left 75 600 homeless.