The UAE obtains an identity card for the Iranian cumin in its own name
The lack of conversion industries is a big stone on the way to the export of cumin in South Khorasan, and this issue has caused the result of the efforts of our country’s producers to be introduced to others in the world.
Medicinal plants have a special value and importance in ensuring the health of communities both in terms of treatment and prevention of diseases.
This part of natural resources has a long history with human beings and has been one of the most important sources of human food and medicine for generations.
From a historical point of view, plants have been very important in the development of societies and extensive research has been done to find natural, medicinal and herbal products and materials throughout history, but the important point is that only less than 10% of the world’s 250,000 plant species for more than A biological function has been identified and used.
Cumin as one of the valuable medicinal plants of our country, has characteristics that have established its place in the cultivation pattern of certain regions of the country.
Kazem Mohammadpour, a member of the faculty and director of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of South Khorasan, said that the export of cumin is important from the point of view of the country’s economy and helping to increase the income of villagers. Razavi and South), East Azerbaijan, Central and Turkmen Sahara are concentrated.
He added: According to the statistics of the Jihad Agricultural Organization of South Khorasan, in this province, the area under cultivation of this crop in the 2012 crop year was 2846 hectares and produced 842 tons.
The head of the South Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, referring to the low cost of preparation, planting, holding and harvesting cumin compared to other crops in the region (such as wheat), due to the short growing period, no need for heavy irrigation He mentioned the reason for adapting the growing season to the region’s rainfall, the lack of common pests and diseases in the region.
This faculty member and director of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of South Khorasan, noted: On the other hand, due to recent droughts in South Khorasan, the cultivation of this plant has a long history of cultivation in some areas of the province (including Sarayan, Bashravieh and Khosf It has ecological compatibility and good drought resistance. It can still have its place in the crop rotation in this province, followed by planning to create packaging and processing industries and provide a platform for direct export of this product and shortening the intermediaries. In addition to raising foreign exchange earnings, the economy of rural households can be improved.
Mohammadpour also said about the problems facing the export and trade of cumin: Currently, Iran is the sixth largest exporter of cumin in the world and Turkey, Syria, Singapore and Egypt are the most important importers of cumin in our country.
He said that 70% of Iranian cumin is exported to the UAE in raw and bulk in packages of 25, 50 to 80 kg, adding: After processing in this country, this product will be exported to international markets in the name of the UAE.
The head of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of South Khorasan, referring to the shortage of conversion industries, added: This has caused less than 20% of the remaining product to be distributed in domestic markets, which will be excluded from the production cycle if exports are not possible.
Mohammadpour added: Since most agricultural products enter the market at a certain time and supply is more than needed, there is some fluctuation in prices that can be prevented with working capital credits provided to farmers. Took. In this case, farmers can market their products in small quantities and according to need so that they do not have to sell it cheaply.
He mentioned the relatively short growing season, the adaptation of the growing season of this plant to the rainy season of arid and semi-arid regions of the country as unique features of cumin and added: Cumin season in cultivated areas does not intersect with the working season of other crops and balance in It creates a temporal distribution of the work of farmers and agricultural machinery.
The head of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of South Khorasan, added: Cumin has a high economic justification compared to other crops, especially in areas where water is a limiting factor for agriculture and economic comparison should be based on net income of one cubic meter of water. , This plant earns a good income compared to water consumption.
Mohammadpour, referring to the low fluctuations in the price of cumin, added: Since cumin is an export plant, its price is less volatile and makes farmers confident in selling their products at a reasonable price.
He mentioned the treatment of shortness of breath and diarrhea, insect antidote, milk enhancer, anti-flatulence, anti-seizure and epilepsy, stomach tonic, pain reliever, diuretic, regularizer, diaphoretic and treatment of gynecological diseases, including therapeutic, chemical and nutritional properties of cumin. The antioxidant properties of cumin are one of the most important uses of cumin, which is used in the food industry as a preservative instead of chemicals, he said.
It also has many applications in health industries such as perfumery and soap making. The fruits of this plant are used as flavorings and are used in the preparation of soups, pickles, cheese, sauces and sweets.
He reminded: Fruit essential oil has antibacterial properties. In some countries, this essential oil is used to disinfect sutures.