TEHRAN - The Iranian Agriculture Ministry has actually prohibited exports of more crops from the country as part of efforts to control soaring food prices in the domestic market in the days remaining till the holy month of Ramadan and the new Iranian year.In a letter issued this week, the ministry asked Irans Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) to stop exports of apples, oranges and various kinds of dates from the country for two months starting February 24, according to a Tuesday report by the semi-official ILNA agency.The ministry stated the decision was aimed at developing balance and stability in the domestic market.Demand for dates increases in Iran throughout the holy month of Ramadan, which will start on March 2 this year.
Apple and orange are the staples of celebrations held during Irans New Year vacations starting in late March.The Agriculture Ministry had actually issued a similar letter on February 17 requesting for a two-month restriction on exports of potatoes, lentils, and beans from the country.The restriction on potato exports came a month after Iran was required to import shipments of the crop from surrounding Turkey and Pakistan to control rates in the domestic market.Authorities said at the time they wouldnt be able to halt scheduled potato exports while firmly insisting that such a choice would harm exporters and cause them to lose their share of the marketplace in nations like Iraq.Iran has been a significant manufacturer and exporter of agricultural items in recent years in the middle of efforts by the federal government to offset the effects of foreign sanctions targeting the countrys oil exports.EF/ MA