January 22, 2021
The government, which repeatedly claims self-sufficiency in wheat production, has decided to import 2.3 million tons of wheat this year. Ataollah Hashemi, head of the National Wheat Farmers Foundation, says the country will grow enough wheat this year, in excess of 13 millions tons, to meet domestic demand, but the imported wheat will be used to replenish its strategic reserve. Government officials don’t consider imports for the reserve to impact self-sufficiency.