TEHRAN - Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province is expected to harvest around 200,000 tons of high-quality dates this year, with about 20 percent destined for international markets.
Some 50,000 tons have already been harvested since the season began in mid-June in Minab. Harvesting will continue until late November, ending with the premium Piarom variety in Hajiabad.
Hormozgan ranks third nationally in date production and cultivates more than 55 varieties, including 20 commercially valuable varieties for domestic consumption and export. About 65,000 tons are expected to be exported this year to Eurasian, European, and East Asian markets, as well as countries around the Persian Gulf.
Piarom, Kriteh, Mazafati, and Zahedi are expected to account for a major share of exports due to their quality.
Hajiabad has the largest area under date cultivation in the province, followed by Rudan, Minab, and Bandar Abbas.
Agricultural authorities have also prepared a five-year plan to modernize orchards, expand commercial varieties, preserve date germplasm and improve pest and disease control. The program aims to raise productivity, profitability, branding and value-added production.
Hormozgan has 38,000 hectares of date plantations and produces more than 200,000 tons of dates annually.