Iran Develops Center of Conservation, Cultivation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants: Deputy Minister

Hossein Shirzad, who is also the chief executive officer of the Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran (CORC), said CORC with the cooperation of the main national stockholders of medicinal plants has established the largest center for collection and conservation of the medicinal plants in a farm about 500 hectares.

"The industry of cultivation and processing of medicinal plant as a lucrative and significant part of Iran's agricultural system has a registered national document. The annual growth rate of this industry and the volume of global trade amounts 15.5% and $.107 billion respectively," he added.

Noting the significant role of medicinal plants in the farmers' livelihood security, he declared that CORC has paved the way for running the union of medicinal plants.

"This union strives to attain three main goals, including qualitative and quantitative development of medicinal plants, finding emerging domestic and international markets and boosting farmers' organization," the official implied.

Shirzad also expressed the hope that the potential of the industry of medicinal plants as well as the comprehensive Statute of this union, will aid medicinal plants farmers to tackle many challenges including supplying improved seeds, saplings, and agricultural inputs. Meanwhile, the union assists farmers to produce and market based on contract farming. Also, Branding of produced medicinal plants is marketing assistance that is provided by this union.

Due to climate diversification, Iran has always been a hub of cultivation and using medicinal plants. However, the ethnobotanical studies prove that many of these plants including Saffron, Mohammadi Rose, Thyme, Persian Shallot, Barijeh, green Cumin, and Malva are endemic to Iran which brings absolute advantage for the agro-economy sector of Iran, as well.