The need to create global markets for barberry in South Khorasan

The need to create global markets for barberry in South Khorasan

Hashem Valipour Motlagh in the Dialogue Council between the private sector and the government in the province, said: the value added situation of the agricultural sector in the country compared to industry is 12.6% and in South Khorasan is 31.6%.

He said that the agricultural sector of the province is struggling with many problems, adding: the added value of the agricultural sector of South Khorasan is twice that of the country. High quality and value of agricultural production in South Khorasan increases its added value. Despite the existing problems, we have a lively and debatable sector in the agricultural sector. We must be careful not to destroy this activity in the province.

The head of the South Khorasan Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization, referring to the strategic products of the province, said: This year, about 30,000 hectares of the province have been cultivated with barberry and saffron.

He announced the forecast of harvesting 59 tons of saffron this year and added: We have 15% of the total saffron in the country in South Khorasan. 300 billion tomans is the added value of this product per year. Also, this year we have harvested 16,800 tons of barberry in the province. This province has 98% of the country’s barberry production and 97% of the world’s barberry production.

He said that barberry and saffron are two unique products of South Khorasan, adding: saffron is more known in the world markets than barberry.

But Pourmotlagh called for the creation of global markets in the field of barberry and added: In the current society, barberry in South Khorasan is not well known and needs to be introduced.

We need to get investors into the agricultural sector, he said. Also, the government needs to help the sector at a certain point in time to reduce the cost of products.

According to the head of the South Khorasan Agricultural Jihad Organization, 163 billion tomans is the share of value added in the agricultural sector of the province.