Iran’s agriculture ministry announced its plans to cultivate rice in Uruguay as part of a recent agricultural cooperation between the two countries, according to the Iranian news agency Mehr News Agency.
Under a bilateral economic and trade relations, qualified Iranian companies will be identified and equipped to farm rice in the South American country. Meanwhile, Uruguay agreed to support these companies with facilities for sustainable and long-term supply of agricultural products particularly rice. Maize, oilseeds, and livestock are among the other products that Iran seeks to raise overseas.
Rice is one of the main foods consumed in Iran and is grown on about half a million hectares. In 2010, Iran produced about 2.3 million tons of rice with rice farms producing an average of 4 tons per hectares.
Uruguay has the third-highest rice productivity in the world with an average of 8 tons per hectare of dry paddy rice. It produces 1.3 million tons of rice annually, around 95% of its is exported to Iran, Iraq, Brazil, and Peru. The country has attained a premium position in the international market. Despite having a tiny fraction of world rice production, it is seventh on the list of rice-exporting countries, behind only the big players.
Read the story: Iran to launch agricultural cultivation in Uruguay
