Gholamhossein Soltan Mohammadi, Head of the Flower and Plant Producers Union of Tehran Province, has examined the status of flower and plant production and exports in Iran, stating that Iran ranks 17th in the world for the production of these products, but in terms of exports, the country's position is 107th.
Decrease in Demand and Rising Costs
Soltan Mohammadi pointed out that the decrease in domestic demand is due to economic conditions and recent wars, noting that flowers and plants are no longer part of household shopping baskets as they used to be. He emphasized that households currently prioritize purchasing food items, which has led to a decline in flower and plant sales.
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He also referred to the rising production costs, stating: "The costs of labor, fertilizers, pesticides, electricity, and gas have increased, and overall production costs for producers have risen. On the other hand, per capita consumption has decreased, and people no longer have the purchasing power they once did."
Efforts to Compensate for Shortages
Soltan Mohammadi stated that industry players are trying to keep prices as stable as possible so that buyers can continue to purchase. He also emphasized that the flower and plant industry has always experienced fluctuations in recent years, with periods of production but low customer numbers.
According to the union head, flower production continues as before, and what has decreased is the number of customers. He mentioned the impact of war on the supply of inputs, noting that at certain times, the entry of some inputs into the country faced challenges, leading to shortages in the market.
Need for Export Development
Soltan Mohammadi further emphasized that we must move towards enabling producers to focus on domestic production instead of imports. He pointed out that Iran's climatic capacities can make neighboring countries suitable markets for Iranian products, and export development should be considered one of the main priorities of the flower and plant industry.
The head of the Flower and Plant Producers Union also stated: "We should produce as many goods as possible domestically to reduce our reliance on foreign countries. Excessive imports can hinder domestic production, and it is undesirable for our imports to exceed our exports."
In conclusion, Soltan Mohammadi stressed the necessity of reducing imports and increasing exports, saying: "The main profit is generated when products are produced domestically and exported from the country. The path that needs more attention moving forward is the reduction of imports and the increase of exports; because by developing domestic production, we can support producers and prevent a significant amount of currency from leaving the country."
Read more: Head of the Flower and Plant Producers Union: Iran ranks 107th in exports · Gholamhossein Soltan Mohammadi: Iran ranks 17th in flower and plant production and 107th in exports
