“With these investments, around 130,000 tractors, 7,000 and 3,800 rice and grain combine harvesters respectively and more than 280,000 different kinds of equipment were supplied to farmers across the country over the seven-year period,” Kambiz Abbasi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Abbasi added that more than 15.2 trillion rials ($54 million) worth of investments have been made in agro mechanization during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 20-Oct. 21), marking a threefold rise compared with the similar period of last year.
“So far this year, 13,987 tractors have been delivered to farmers, registering a 40% rise compared with the similar period of last year. Some 310 combine harvesters have also been manufactured locally and used in farmlands across the country,” he said.
The official noted that in January, agricultural mechanization coefficient in Iran is presently at 1.8 horsepower per hectare.
“The figure stood at 1.2 hp/ha when President Hassan Rouhabi first took office in August 2013. The coefficient is expected to increase to 2.1 hp/ha by the end of Rouhani’s second term [August 2021], and to 3 hp/ha by the fiscal 2031-32,” he added.
Abbasi said about 95% of Iran’s agricultural machiner are produced locally and the rest is imported due to a lack of production lines for these machinery and spare parts.