First National Forum on Medicinal Plants to be Held in Milad Tower

The executive of the National Plan on Medicinal Plants of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad said in a press conference, “Efforts have been made in the past year to put together a plan in terms of Iranian medicinal plants and traditional medicine, which will be implemented with the help of the private sector.”

The National row for next year’s budget has been dedicated to the National Plan on Medicinal Plants, Peyman Yousefi Azar added, “After 35 years and despite restricted financial resources, an independent credit has been allocated to medicinal plants.”

He noted, “In order to lay the culture and familiarize people with the country’s medicinal plants, the first National Forum on Medicinal Plants will be held on February 16 in Milad Tower.”

Referring to a comprehensive plan prepared for the medicinal plants market, Yousefi Azar indicated, “60 percent of the importance of production and consumption chain is dedicated to the market and 40 percent is to do with production. Therefore, in this plan, the target countries have been identified.”

Medicinal Plants’ Global Turnover: 120 Billion Dollars 

Pointing out medicinal plants turnover as 120 billion dollars worldwide, the executive of the National Plan on Medicinal Plants of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad said, “The global turnover for all the biopharmaceuticals is 480 billion dollars. Moreover, medicinal plants’ turnover in just Germany is 40 billion dollars, making it more than Iran’s oil revenue. We should note that Germany lacks Iran’s biodiversity and variety of climates.”

He indicated, “The average economic growth of the developed countries such as Germany and France, is 2.5 to 3.5 percent. However, the average global growth of medicinal plants is 9.1 percent. Therefore, medicinal plants is making more profits than any other industry.”

In Iran’s 6th Development Plan: 100 Thousand Hectares Increase in Medicinal Plants Cultivation Area

Referring to the worldwide turnover of saffron as eight billion dollars, Yousefi Azar stressed,”The export turnover of saffron in Iran is 376 million dollars; furthermore, about 150 thousand hectares of medicinal plant varieties is cultivated in our country, 107 thousand hectares and 17500 hectares of medicinal plants cultivation area is allocated to saffron and Rosa damascena, respectively. Also, in Iran’s 6th Development Plan, 100 thousand hectares of medicinal plants cultivation area is added to the current area.”

He said, “Although Iran produces 90 percent of world’s saffron, it has not profited from its export as much as expected.”

Yousefi Azar went on to say, “The cultivation area of Rosa damascena is 3000 hectares in Bulgaria and it produces 65 percent of the world’s Rosa damascena essential oil. However, although 17.5 thousand hectares is under the cultivation of this product in Iran, our country does not have a desirable share in the export of Rosa damascena essential oil.”

Pointing to the 30 percent tariff for Iranian saffron in India, he said, “An economics vice presidency has been formed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there have been correspondences with the Foreign Ministries and the customs  to solve this problem. In order to cut these tariffs to zero, Iran must join the World Trade Organization, negotiate with each and every one of these countries or issue penalty guidelines against such countries. For instance, in case the tariff for Iranian saffron is not eliminated, Iran can impose tariffs on imported Indian rice.”

Transferring Lands to the Most Efficient Applicants of Licorice Cultivation

According to the executive of the National Plan on Medicinal Plants of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, those applicants from the private sector, who can establish an office for Iranian saffron in European and Asian countries, will be given a 6 percent bank facilities.”

Yousefi Azar announced that the average harvest of saffron in Iran’s farms is between 6 to 10 kilograms per hectare; however, in Khorasan this number has reached 12 to 18 kilograms per hectare and in some farms, 38.8 kilograms per hectare has been registered.

He noted, “In order to support the domestic products and prevent the non-standard medicinal plants from entering the country, import tariffs will be imposed on 125 medicinal plants.”

Yousefi Azar stated that based on the customs declaration the export of Iranian saffron is 286 million dollars, and the export of saffron from the country’s unofficial ports is 100 million dollars.

He added,”The export of licorice is 37 million dollars. There are five licorice processing companies in Iran and based on Articles 3 and 32, lands will be transferred to the most efficient and active applicants of licorice cultivation and production.”

the executive of the National Plan on Medicinal Plants of Ministry of Agriculture Jihad also said, “The export of Rosa damascena is 17 million dollars,  14 million dollars of which is related to cutting roots of Rosa damascene. Turkey and Central Asia are mainly its destination.”

In the end,  Pointing out Turkey’s 550 million dollars of medicinal plants export, Yousefi Azar stressed, “Erdogan has a five-billion-dollar target for Turkey’s medicinal plants export. However, considering the 376 million dollars of Iran’s medicinal plants export, a three-and-a-half- billion-dollar-target has been considered in five years time.”