Iran Takes First Place in the World for Production of Rosa Damascena

The secretary for National Council for Science and Technology Development of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, Vice-presidency for Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammad Hassan Assareh, in an interview with IRNA reporter said, “Currently, more than 11 thousand hectares of the country’s lands are devoted to the cultivation of Rosa damascena.“

He also stressed, “90 percent of world production of perfumes is taken from the essential oils of aromatic flowers, and Rosa damascena takes up a large share in production of the essential oils of perfumes.”

“Out of every 10 to 15 square meters of Rosa damascena cultivation, one liter of essential oil is produced and the essential oil of Rosa damascena per liter values 10 to 22 thousand dollars.” Added Assareh.

The secretary for National Council for Science and Technology Development of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, Vice-presidency for Science and Technology, stated, “Rosa damascena does not require a lot of water, and the cultivation of this flower is economically beneficial  due to the shortage in water resources and the recent droughts.”

He went on to say, “Rosa damascena can be cultivated in the areas where the average precipitation is annually 200 milliliters.”

Rosa damascena is cultivated in the high, dried lands of Iran where they are 2 to 3 thousand meters above sea level.

The most important areas of Iran which cultivate Rosa damascena, are: Provinces of Isfahan (Kashan), Kerman, Kermanshah, Fars and East Azerbaijan.

The production of a liter of Rosa damascena essential oil requires 4 tonnes of petals, hence it is considered as one of the most valuable products.

18 thousand hectares of the farms  of Charmahal and Bakhtiari are also devoted to the cultivation of Rosa damascena.