Cumin; Exports of South Khorasan Cumin in Bulk

South Khorasan province ranks fifth in the areas under cultivation of cumin in Iran, but these products are exported out of Iran in bulk due to the lack of processing industry.

Medicinal herbs are the main source of treatment and pharmaceutical industry globally. However, investors are unaware of this unique feature. Cumin is considered a valuable reserve of South Khorasan. If this crop is protected and used right in the fields of natural resources, the level of health and the quality of people’s lives will improve. Also, job opportunities are created through the production of medicinal herbs and getting a deserving position and a good share of the world cumin market.

Cumin is cultivated in two ways, irrigated and rain-fed in South Khorasan. Some of these plants are wildflowers. Experts believe that cumin cultivation is much cheaper than chemical medicines. It can also play a significant role in the province’s economy due to its high-quality essence and active ingredients. It needs a low amount of water, uses rainfall, grows in a short period, lacks interference with other products, and the resistance of this crop to saline water and inhospitable climate.

Cumin is one of the main advantages of this province. Some factors increase quality and active ingredients in pharmaceutical species, including dry and semi-arid climatic conditions of the region, differences in night and day temperature, and temperature fluctuations. There are two types of cumin cultivation in South Khorasan province. The first one is Rangeland cultivation which natural resources are in charge. The second type is Agricultural cultivation that the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for cultivating and developing. Economic advantages and compatibility with dry climate conditions of the province are considered in the Agricultural cultivation of cumin. Moving toward improving the best pharmaceutical plants cultivation, agricultural cultivation, and diversifying are some of the strategies of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture to replace the products that consume much water in the province. The development of the pharmaceutical plants’ cultivation has some benefits such as importing foreign currencies to the country and economic prosperity, reducing dependency overseas, creating jobs, and preventing the immigration of villagers and farmers.

During the past month, the price of various types of Iranian green and black cumin remained stable in the domestic markets of Iran. But it has increased due to the decline in foreign exchange rates in the Iranian market. During the past three weeks, the foreign exchange rate has decreased against Rial due to the hopes for the results of talks between Iran and the other members of JCPOA in Vienna. Iran and the members of JCPOA have been negotiating to return Iran and the United States to this agreement. Compared to the last month, the price of Iranian cumin for export has risen by about 4 percent. The foreign exchange rate in the Iranian market is expected to reduce if the talks come to a conclusion and the removal of United States sanctions against Iran. Especially the sanctions related to the financial issues and the bank transfer, and release of blocked assets of Iran in many countries.

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