“Wheat is a strategic product that could be used as a pressure tool to control some countries politically and should not be considered as a foodstuff only.”
Attending a ceremony held on Tuesday in Tehran, the President added that this achievement has been of much significance strategically rather than economically since the product comprises nearly 50 percent of the foodstuff used in the country on a daily basis.
The total production of wheat is 600 million tons annually worldwide 90 percent of which is being produced by five Western countries only. Over the past four decades Iran used to be a major importer of wheat. Just in 2002 Iran was Canada's biggest customer of wheat.
At present, wheat consumption per capita in Iran stands at 240 kg while the average figure stands at 90 kg in the rest of the world.
President Khatami praised all officials and farmers for their efforts and went on to say that self-sufficiency would secure national interests, boost national security and guarantee the local need of wheat.
He also praised dam construction projects that have recently been accelerated in a bid to complete 75 percent of the projects by the end of his term next May. However, the president did not mention some historic sites which will be flooded in the provinces of Khuzestan, Gilan and Fars as a result of the construction of these dams.
Khatami said that the newly created dams have been useful in reserving water for agricultural purposes.
Iran used to import six million tons of wheat during the draught period, i.e. over the past few years. However, the country managed to achieve self-sufficiency in production of wheat after the draught was over.
In the meantime, the Minister of Agricultural Jihad Mahmud Hojjati, said that there are plans to improve other agricultural sectors too. For instance, the output of corn has reached two million tons in the current year from one million tons in 2001.
The minister added that some six million hectares of farmlands have been allocated to the cultivation of wheat at the present.
According to a report released by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) the growing world demand for wheat would lead international markets to a more competitive situation in near future since the world reservoir of wheat will decrease to 160 million tons in 2005 from 240 million tons at present.
Hojjati noted that the insurance facilities have to be provided for wheat farmers to secure the current output in the coming years.
ARA /AJ/MA
END
MNA
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