Location
Situated in southwestern Asia, Iran covers an area of 1,648,000 km2.
Iran is bounded on the North by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and
the Caspian Sea, on the East by Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the South
by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, on the West by Iraq, and on
the North West by Turkey, with a total land boundary length of 5,440
km. The coastline is 2,440 km. The shoreline on the Caspian Sea is 740
km. Iran's territory includes several islands in the Persian Gulf.
Iran has a continental type of climate, with cold winters and hot
summers prevalent across the plateau. On the plateau, the annual
rainfall does not exceed 30 cm, with the deserts and the Persian Gulf
littoral receiving less than 13 cm. Snow falls heavily on the mountain
peaks and is the principal source of water for irrigation in spring
and early summer. The Caspian littoral is warm and humid throughout
the year, and the annual rainfall is from about 100 to 150 cm.
Agricultural Sector
Iran’s agricultural sector contributed
12 percent of the GDP in 2005 and employed 30% (2001) of the labour
force (CIA). Some northern and western areas support rain-fed
agriculture, while other areas require irrigation for successful crop
production. Wheat, rice, and barley are the country’s major crops.
Total wheat and rice production fails to meet domestic food
requirements, however, making substantial imports necessary. Other
principal crops include potatoes, legumes, vegetables, fruits, fodder
plants, oil seeds, nuts (pistachios, almonds, and walnuts), cotton,
sugarcane, sugar beets, herbs, spices, tea, and tobacco (FAOSTAT).
Honey is collected from beehives, and silk is harvested from silkworm
cocoons. Livestock products include lamb, beef, goat meat, poultry,
eggs, milk, butter, cheese, wool, and leather. Major agricultural
exports include fresh and dried fruits, nuts, animal hides, processed
foods, and spices (Food and Fertilizer Technology Center).
Brief overview of organic farming
Traditional small-scale farming was the
main structure of farming communities for centuries and this has
caused a tremendous accumulation of indigenous knowledge in farming
practices and food production. Therefore, natural farming used to be a
widespread practice not more than half a century ago and is still
appreciated to some extent by the farmers. According to IFOAM & FiBL
(2006), in the Islamic Republic of Iran there are 100 hectares of land
under organic management and only one registered organic farm.
Although the remains of traditional systems of food production,
completely organic both in technical and social terms, are still in
operation in remote areas, these systems have not been regarded as
organic in the present context of organic production and in fact they
could be considered as ignored organic farmers (IFOAM).
Brief overview of key organic products
The organic products grown are rice,
maize, wheat ,legumes and nuts. There is no evidence of a domestic
market for organic products, and certified production is mainly
exported.
The network
At December 2006, there is no organic
organisation within Iran registered with IFOAM, nor are there any
national organic standards. A few public and private
initiatives in the country do state their intent to develop organic
production: some non-certified production for local consumption, and
some certified for export, mainly Jasmine rice. There is no evidence
of a domestic organic market.
Ministry of Agricultural Jihad
Website:
http://www.maj.ir/english/Main/Default.asp
Iranian Agricultural Engineering Research Institute
Website:
http://214.176.87.99/fani/Start
Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization
Website: http://www.areo.ir
Iran's Agriculture and GATT
Website: http://www.netiran.com/
Iran's Agriculture and Water Sectors
Website:
www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/DEconomy/971001XXDE02.html
Iran Agriculture
Website:
www.iranagri.com
Aquasat (Food and Agriculture Organization)
Website:
www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/agl/aglw/aquastat/iran1.html
Iran Industry and Agriculture Company
Website:
www.iran-export.com/
References
-
FAO, 24.10.2006: Key Statistics of Food and Agriculture External
Trade. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
Statistics Division.
www.fao.org/es/ess/toptrade/trade.asp?dir=exp&country=3&ryear=2004 and
www.fao.org/es/ess/top/country.html?lang=en
-
FAO, IFOAM, and Earth Net Foundation (2003): Proceedings of the
Seminar on the Production and Export of Organic Fruit And Vegetables
in Asia.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/AD429E/ad429e00.HTM
-
Ministry of Agriculture of Islamic Republic of Iran, Agricultural
Statistics and Information Department, 2000.
-
IFOAM & FiBL (2006): The World of Organic Agriculture. Statistics and
Emerging Trends 2006. International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM), Bonn & Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
FiBL, Frick, pp. 108-117.
-
Yussefi, Minou and Willer, Helga, Eds. (2003): The World of Organic
Agriculture, Statistics and Future Prospects. Foundation Ecology and
Agriculture, Germany and International Federation of Organic
Agriculture Movements.
