Iran’s performance in pistachio production is lower than world performance
According to the results of studies, Iran’s performance in pistachio production is lower than global performance.
Dr. Mostafa Salimifar, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, and Sedigheh Mirzaei Khalilabadi, Master of Program and Budget, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, in a study examining Iran’s comparative advantage in pistachio production and export In the aftermath of the decline in foreign exchange earnings, the possibility of advancing the country’s economic development plans by relying on oil revenues has been seriously questioned. Therefore, in order to reduce the vulnerability of economic development goals, it is necessary to expand non-oil exports and diversify export earnings.
The results of this study add: The agricultural sector has always played a significant role in non-oil exports and foreign exchange earnings.
Over the past three decades, exports of agricultural and traditional products have accounted for more than 80% of total exports.
Among Iran’s non-oil exports, carpets and pistachios are still of particular importance. Statistical evidence shows that Iran’s performance in pistachio production is lower than world performance.
In addition, the price of the country’s exported pistachios has decreased and Iran’s share of the global market for this product has also decreased due to the presence of Iran’s rival.
Research shows that the United States, with the formation of the Union of California, has taken fundamental steps in the research, technical, and specialized fields of pistachio horticulture, commerce, and marketing, and not only planting, holding, and harvesting technology to the extent that It has significantly increased but also achieved a lot in marketing.
Meanwhile, Iran is facing problems such as water shortage due to improper digging of deep and semi-deep wells, especially in Kerman region as the largest pistachio production hub in the country, use of incorrect irrigation methods and shortage of manpower that prolongs the harvest period. have been.
The results of this study are as follows: Among the other problems that arose in the production of Iranian pistachios in some years and has had a great impact on the export of this product has been the emergence of aflatoxin toxin.
Although the pistachio-rich areas of the country, which are located in arid and semi-desert areas, the probability of pistachio contamination on the tree in these areas is very low, but if the harvest period is prolonged or exposed to lower rainfall or inappropriate drying methods are used. The possibility of infection with this toxin increases.
The results of this study show that Iran still has a comparative advantage in the production and export of pistachio.
However, there are problems both in the production and export sectors that the yield per hectare of this product and also Iran’s share in the world market has had a negative impact.
The researcher further suggested: in order to increase the yield, necessary measures should be taken to improve irrigation methods, use pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and grow pistachio trees annually.
In order to achieve a higher quality product, it is necessary to take more care in harvesting, methods of drying pistachios and separating the soft skin of pistachios with dry peeling machines.
Also, in order to increase exports, it is necessary to identify new permeable markets, because many countries in the world have the ability to consume pistachios in terms of per capita income, which is not yet among the consumers of this product.
