24 July 2013
Iran has 11 climatic zones suitable for growing herbal plants, of which eight are located in North Khorasan province.
Announcing this, Abolfazl Yavari, the head of North Khorasan Agricultural Jihad Department, said development credits have been allocated for research projects of Agricultural Jihad Department, a huge portion of which pertains to growing herbal plants, Persian daily Iran wrote.
Hojjatollah Rabbani-Nasab, the head of North Khorasan Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Department, said galbanum, buglos, licorice, green caraway and savory are major herbal plants of the province.
"Apart from medicinal consumption, the herbal plants are used for making food colors, food essences and controlling pests and disease," he said.
"The unprocessed herbal plants are exported to other regions such as Fars province."
Some 12 tons of crops are produced from 1,500 hectares of lands allocated for growing green caraway, Mohammadi rose, mint and sesame in the province.
Ali Akbar Ameri, the deputy head of North Khorasan Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Department, complained of lack of specialized manpower and shortfall in research budget.
On the identification of 308 herbal species in North Khorasan, he said the conditions were favorable for growing green caraway, saffron, Mohammadi rose, mint, mallow plant, sesame and safflower across 1,000 hectares of lands.
"Annually, close to 735,000 kg of herbal products are harvested," he said.
Ameri called the absence of processing and packing units as reasons behind the flight of "green assets" from the province.
The provinces of Fars, Isfahan, and Khorasan Razavi purchase North Khorasan plants for a trivial price," he said.
"After undergoing processing, they sell them to UAE, France, and India at several times higher prices."
Hassan Nosrati, a senior official of North Khorasan Natural Resources and Watershed Department, said all plants have special medicinal properties.
North Khorasan province, particularly its cities of Bojnourd, Maneh and Samalqan, grows many herbal plants.
Galbanum and gum tragacanth are major plants of North Khorasan province, which have been cultivated across 75,000 hectares. Apart from medicinal uses, they have high economic value.
Barberry is another plant that has been cultivated across 90,000 hectares in Farouj.
Iran has 11 climatic zones suitable for growing herbal plants, of which eight are located in North Khorasan province.
Announcing this, Abolfazl Yavari, the head of North Khorasan Agricultural Jihad Department, said development credits have been allocated for research projects of Agricultural Jihad Department, a huge portion of which pertains to growing herbal plants, Persian daily Iran wrote.
Hojjatollah Rabbani-Nasab, the head of North Khorasan Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Department, said galbanum, buglos, licorice, green caraway and savory are major herbal plants of the province.
"Apart from medicinal consumption, the herbal plants are used for making food colors, food essences and controlling pests and disease," he said.
"The unprocessed herbal plants are exported to other regions such as Fars province."
Some 12 tons of crops are produced from 1,500 hectares of lands allocated for growing green caraway, Mohammadi rose, mint and sesame in the province.
Ali Akbar Ameri, the deputy head of North Khorasan Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Department, complained of lack of specialized manpower and shortfall in research budget.
On the identification of 308 herbal species in North Khorasan, he said the conditions were favorable for growing green caraway, saffron, Mohammadi rose, mint, mallow plant, sesame and safflower across 1,000 hectares of lands.
"Annually, close to 735,000 kg of herbal products are harvested," he said.
Ameri called the absence of processing and packing units as reasons behind the flight of "green assets" from the province.
The provinces of Fars, Isfahan, and Khorasan Razavi purchase North Khorasan plants for a trivial price," he said.
"After undergoing processing, they sell them to UAE, France, and India at several times higher prices."
Hassan Nosrati, a senior official of North Khorasan Natural Resources and Watershed Department, said all plants have special medicinal properties.
North Khorasan province, particularly its cities of Bojnourd, Maneh and Samalqan, grows many herbal plants.
Galbanum and gum tragacanth are major plants of North Khorasan province, which have been cultivated across 75,000 hectares. Apart from medicinal uses, they have high economic value.
Barberry is another plant that has been cultivated across 90,000 hectares in Farouj.
© Iran Daily 2013
