TEHRAN: Iran's next wheat harvest will be 30 percent less than forecast due to drought, forcing it to resume imports, the head of the national farmers' association was quoted as saying on Saturday.
The news comes as world food prices reach record highs, with storms, floods and droughts hitting food belts around the world. That has contributed to unrest in countries with high poverty rates and unemployment, which toppled Tunisia's president last month and sparked the current political turmoil in Egypt. [ID:nSGE71203E]
"The drought (in previous years) in Iran and the shortage of rainfall in recent months has damaged the production of winter crops, such as wheat and barley," Iranian daily Arman quoted Eisa Kalantari, the head of the Farmer's Home association, as saying.
"The production of wheat next year will be less than this year, and despite the projected 15.5 million tonnes wheat harvest it will not be any more than 11 million, damaged by at least 30 percent," said Kalantari a former agriculture minister.
Iran would have to resort to imports to compensate for the shortfall, he said.
Iran briefly became self-sufficient in wheat production in 2004 but cold winter weather in 2007-08, followed by drought, hit agricultural output and forced it to resume importing the grain.
According to the website of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Iran imported 5.2 million tonnes of wheat in 2008 and exported 102,000 tonnes.
In September, Iran said it was self-sufficient in wheat once again, producing 15.14 million tonnes. A week later the trade ministry banned imports of wheat, rice and several other food products to protect domestic consumers.
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