Jebraeili: Damavand Apple Orchard Yield Reaches 181 Tons per Hectare

Damavand – The head of the Tehran Province Agricultural Jihad Organization says apple orchard yields in Damavand have reached 181 tons per hectare this year, a figure far above the provincial and national averages.

According to Mehr reporter, Jibraeil Braradi, head of Tehran Province Agricultural Jihad Organization, told reporters on the sidelines of the Damavand Apple Festival on Tuesday afternoon: The average yield of apple orchards in this city has reached 181 tons per hectare this year.

According to him, this figure was 147 tons last year, while the average of Tehran province is 39 tons and the average of the country is 17 tons per hectare.

He described the purpose of holding the festival to introduce the capabilities of Damavand's agricultural sector and to appreciate the best gardeners and producers and said: He hopes that the exchange of experience among gardeners will increase productivity per unit area.

Bradri added: Damavand ranks second in the country in terms of performance per unit level and ranks fourth in terms of total production.

The head of Tehran's Agricultural Jihad said about farmers' dissatisfaction with the high cost of inputs: "Reforming the preferential exchange rate was a valuable thing done by the government."

According to him, by eliminating mandated prices, the manufacturer now knows the cost price and can compete both in the domestic and global markets.

He admitted that the price of inputs has gone up after the liberalization, but said that measures have been taken to provide producers with liquidity.

Bradri explained: In the meetings with the operating bank, the supply of the input has been arranged on credit.

According to him, the place of production is accepted as collateral, the credit limit is determined based on eligibility and the requests are reviewed and approved in the system within one day.

He said: The producer has six months to sell his product and his credit is recharged.

The head of Tehran Province's Jihad Agricultural Organization said: Poultry farms above 10,000 units buy directly through the market system and credit wallet, but smaller units use the capacity of the Agricultural Sector Development Fund and the Agricultural Bank.

He admitted: This group may be dissatisfied or not have enough profit to compete, but the semi-industrial and industrial units are satisfied.

According to him, out of about 8,500 production units in the province, nearly 1,500 industrial units have received credit services and the rest are benefiting from 4% loans from the Agricultural Sector Development Fund.