July 19, 2012
Iran launches 25,000-tonne wheat silo in Amirabad Port
An Iranian news agency reported that a 25,000-tonne wheat silo has been inaugurated in the Iranian northern port city of Amirabad.
Over IRR80 billion (US$6.5 million) has been invested by the private sector in building the silo, Roads and Urban Development Minister Ali Nikzad said on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony on Wednesday (July 18).
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has reported that Iran is the 12th leading producer of wheat in the world with an average production of 14 million tonnes in 2011, according to Press TV.
Iran's wheat production witnessed a one-million tonne decline from 15 million tonnes in 2010, the report said. It added that Iran's rice production in 2011 was 2.4 million tonnes, which increased from a total of 2.3 million tonnes in the previous year. FAO also noted that the global wheat production is estimated to be the second highest ever at 690 million tonnes in 2012. The report added that adverse weather conditions have led to food insecurity in many regions, despite the predicted increase in global wheat production.