According to the P.R. Office of Sugarcane Development Co., Dr. Al-Kathir stated the following: In the current crop year, 2,150 hectares of fallow lands of Sugarcane Development Co. were planted with Rapeseed, of which, 4,420 tons of Rapeseed oilseeds were harvested with an efficiency of more than 2 tons per hectare.
He added: “For the first time, according to the memorandum between the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and Mahidasht Agro-Industrial Complex of Kermanshah, as one of the producers of oil from oilseeds, Rapeseed cultivation was done on a contract basis in the Seven Agro-Industries of Sugarcane Development Co.”
The Deputy of Agricultural Utilization of the Sugarcane Development Co. emphasized: Due to the new government policies in the guaranteed purchase of products, this type of contract with oil producing companies has replaced the guaranteed purchase method by rural cooperatives.
Al-Kathir continued: “Based on the signed contract and the coordination made, more than 2,100 hectares of fallow farms of Sugarcane Development Industries were planted, which was harvested with high efficiency and purchased at 5% more than the valued price by Mahidasht Agro-Industry.
Declaring that this type of contract for the purchase of Rapeseed is the first experience of its kind in the country, he emphasized: despite the changes made in the method of purchasing Rapeseed in line with new government policies, all the steps, including signing of the contract, cultivating, keeping and harvesting Canola, transporting and paying for the purchase of the product, went well, and in the next crop year, with the trust and confidence that companies have found in this type of contract, we will see the expansion of cultivation in the form of this plan.
Referring to the importance of cultivating oilseeds in the country, this official said: “Rapeseed is another strategic crop and due to the low factor of self-sufficiency of the country in oil production, the expansion of cultivation of this product is always emphasized by the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and every year, in order to increase its cultivation, the necessary organizations are done by the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Khuzestan Province.
In the end, Dr. Al-Kathir mentioned: In addition to oil production, rapeseed cultivation, with its straight and deep roots, has an effective role in improving soil structure and increasing its fertility, and for this purpose, it has been included in the crop rotation program of sugarcane cultivation.
Rapeseed is one of the strategic crops that can be planted to eliminate the need to import oilseeds in the country. Supplying the oil needed by the country and preventing the outflow of foreign exchange, providing feed needed for livestock and poultry, and ensuring food security and community health are among the goals of developing oilseeds in the country.