Agriculture policy and development in Iran: an overview

This article is concerned with the production and trade of agricultural products in Iran. The development of the agriculture sector of the economy of Iran is analyzed from 1980 to the present day. By doing so, it is possible to see long-term trends in both the production and trade of all agricultural products. This review will attempt to show trends which have occurred in Iran in the post revolutionary period. They include the rise in the level of production of agricultural products. At the same time the increases in the production has not kept pace with a substantial rise in population, leading to increased imports of all categories of agricultural products. Iran, once an exporter, is now a net importer of agricultural products. This paper will also examine the way in which Iran is now seeking to develop it agriculture sector and to what extent it has been successful.