Tehran, Sept 18, IRNA
Iran's pistachio output is expected to exceed 200,000 tons by the end of the harvest season (October 7), said the secretary of Damghan Pistachio Association.
In an exclusive interview with 'Iran Daily', published Thursday, Mansour Abbasian added that Iran's pistachio output has been favorable since the beginning of the harvest season that began on August 6.
So far, 17,000 tons of pistachios have been harvested in Damghan, Semnan province, he noted.
"During August 6-October 7, 2013, Damghan's pistachio production amounted to 35,000 tons," he added.
"Iran exports over 50 percent of its pistachio output annually. Export destinations include Russia, China, Iraq and Persian Gulf littoral states."
Abbasian noted that Damghan National Pistachio Festival is held every year on September 17 and 18.
"The festival is held to boost and improve Iran's pistachio output quantitatively and qualitatively, and acquaint domestic and foreign customers with Damghan pistachio," he said.
In previous years, the festival was titled "Thanksgiving Pistachio Festival".
This year, pistachio growers across the country are participating in the event for the first time.
"Damghan's pistachio has the best taste in the world. The hot and dry weather in Semnan province and Damghan is the main reason," he said.
The official noted that despite the unfavorable precipitation in Semnan province in the current year, pistachio output has been satisfactory.
Following Kerman, Qazvin, South Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi provinces, Damghan ranks fifth in pistachio production.
"However, in terms of average pistachio output per hectare, Damghan ranks first in the country. Each hectare of Damghan's orchards yields three tons of pistachio. Damghan has 14,600 hectares of pistachio orchards," he said.
Abbasian listed Damghan's main pistachio types as Akbari, Shah Pasand, Abbasali and Khanjari.
© IRNA 2014
