Khaf saffron processing plant comes on stream

Different stages of separating, sorting and drying of the saffron harvest is carried out at the newly launched saffron processing plant, noted the head of the Agricultural Jihad of this small city located on the Iran-Afghanistan border, some 1200 km northeast of Tehran.

In addition to the saffron processing operations, the center could also be used for drying fruits and other vegetables, he explained.

Coming second only to pistachios, saffron constitutes the nation’s most important non-oil export. Iran ranks first in the world production of the condiment, with 80 percent of the world yield. However, lack of modern processing and packaging factories have hindered the industry’s development as a profit-making business.

RA

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MNA