TEHRAN – The expansion of land for the cultivation of medicinal plants by 300,000 hectares is one of the goals set in the Seventh Five-Year National Planning Plan (2023 – 2027).
“In the Sixth National Development Plan, the medicinal plants expanded by 491 thousand hectares, exceeding the set target of 250 thousand hectares,” IRIB quoted Tarahom Behzad, an official at the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Agency.
Expansion of land for cultivation of medicinal plants by implementing multi-purpose pasture management programs using biological and biomechanical methods and preventing changes in pasture use is also under consideration in the Seventh National Plan, the official added.
Over 1,500 tons of medicinal herbs were harvested and more than 961 tons were exported in the last Iranian calendar year (which ended March 19), Behzad further said.
In July, the official said that 14 natural climates are known in the world, Iran covers about 11 of these climate types, and the country is a breeding ground for all kinds of medicinal plants.
So far, about 8,600 plant species have been identified in Iran, of which 2,300 are medicinal species and are directly used in the fields of medicine, health and nutritional supplements, the official added.
He said that benefiting from a special climate and an area of about six million hectares of medicinal plant habitats is a very suitable opportunity for proper utilization, serious investment in processing, creation and employment opportunities as well as more specialized exports in the field of processed products. , and earn currency.
Over 300 medicines are made from medicinal plants
More than 300 medicines are produced from 1,200 medicinal plants in the country. The production of medicines from plants in the country goes back to the year 1980.
About 4,400 natural products and over 2,000 traditional products come from domestic companies to the market.
So far, about 30,000 plant species have been identified in the world, with Iran’s share of about 8,000 species, which is more than any species found in Europe.
The per capita consumption of medicinal herbs in Iran is about one kilogram of dried plants, in other words, 83,000 tons of medicinal herbs worth 1.2 trillion riyals (about 4 million dollars) are consumed in the country, while in Europe this amount is 900 grams and in the US it is 2.5 kilos.
Iran has about 40% market share
In October 2023, an official at the Ministry of Health said that Iran had about a 40 percent share of the market for medicinal plants in neighboring countries.
“Large quantities of medicines, supplements, food and beverages are exported to Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Afghanistan,” IRNA quoted Hamidreza Banafsheh as saying.
Iran is among the leading countries in the field of medicine and health technology and supplies 98 percent of pharmaceutical products to the domestic market, the official said.
“Almost 450 of the 1,400 knowledge-based companies are active in the field of herbal medicine, biotechnology and the food industry.
He further said that the Medical Research Development Agency aims to increase the export of medicines.
Since most of the raw materials for the production of herbal medicines are native to the country, these products can compete internationally with the products of the other countries, he added.
In addition, about 15 to 20 percent of Iran’s herbal medicines are unique in the world. Iran has the ability to introduce new herbal medicines to the world, he pointed out.
The production and marketing of pharmaceutical factories is the best way to promote the rich resources of herbal medicines which, in addition to generating foreign exchange earnings for the country, will lead to Iran’s scientific power in this field, he concluded.
MT/MG
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