On the basis of FAO predictions for the second half of 2017, favorable weather conditions in Iran has maintained its position as a major regional producer of wheat following Turkey. As such, it is expected that Iran’s wheat output in 2017 crop year will remain equal to the 2016 figure of 13.5 million tons which is 25 percent larger than the average yield of the five past year.
Production of coarse grains are also anticipated to grow by 100 thousand tons in the present year and reach over four million tons. Rice output will similarly grow by 100 thousand tons to hit 2.6 million tons.
FAO predicts that Iran’s cereal production will add up to an aggregate total of 20.1 million tons in 2017 showing a 200,000-ton increase as compared to a year ago. Accordingly, the overall storage of cereal products is estimated to be over 5.6 million tons which reveals a 900,000-ton reduction in comparison to the figure for the earlier year which was 6.3 million tons.
The report by FAO on prospects of agricultural products and food conditions stated that although extensive harvest of products in some areas has given stability to global food supply chain, continuous war and unrest has increased the number of displaced and hungry people in other regions of the world.
According to FAO studies now 37 countries in the world need foreign assistance for supply of food. Approximately 5.5 million people in South Sudan suffer from severe food insecurity and about 3.2 million people in Somalia are in dire need of food and agriculture aids.
On the other hand, the number of people entangled with food crisis in Yemen has reached 17 million, which, in itself, marks a human tragedy in the Middle East. What’s more, continued military conflict in north Nigeria has made 7.1 million people vulnerable to food insecurity.
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