“The seed industry has been neglected in our country, while the industry has the third largest turnover in the world,” said Deputy Director of Management and Resources for Agricultural Research, Education and Promotion.

Seyed Bagher Mahmoudi said in a statement to the head of the Center for Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education at North Khorasan, “Seeds are a high-income agricultural sector, but unfortunately, the main need of our country is in this sector is being supplied by imports.

He emphasized on seed production in the country, adding that this capacity is existing  and agricultural research centers should pay special attention to this area, which has a high profitability.

Mahmoudi said: Knowledge-based organizations should enter this area because now, given the issues raised by the sanctions area, we need to grow our own seed production.

Deputy Director for Development and Management of Agricultural Research, Education and Agricultural Development said that only $ 160 million worth of seed and vegetable seeds will enter the country each year.