The city of Darreh Shahr, located in the Ilam Province of western Iran, is solidifying its position as one of the most important centers for vegetable production in the region. With local efforts adapting to weather changes, vegetable farming produces about 450 tons annually, ensuring food supply for the province and surrounding areas.
According to a report by the Iranian Mehr News Agency, which was reviewed by the "Video News Agency," farmers in the region rely on natural springs and seasonal rivers that arise alongside the Zagros mountain range, allowing them to expand organic farming and meet the needs of local markets and neighboring provinces.
The director of the agricultural department in the district, Zahid Zini Wand, reported that the area cultivated with edible leafy vegetables this year amounts to approximately 30 hectares, including more than 20 types of crops, such as basil, leeks, parsley, and various types of peppers.
Zini Wand pointed out that about 12 types of these crops have medicinal properties, adding economic and medical value to local vegetable production.
Zini Wand expected that the total production of vegetables aimed at local and foreign markets in the province would exceed 450 tons by the end of the harvest season next December, noting that this sector provides about 100 direct jobs for the local population.
For his part, the general director of rural cooperation in Ilam Province, Fathullah Eskandari, mentioned that the shift towards crop diversification in limited areas represents a strategy for managing risks and is an effective way to deal with climatic and water challenges in western Iran.
Eskandari emphasized that diversifying agriculture helps reduce the phenomenon of monoculture and soil erosion, preserving soil fertility and ensuring sustainable production in the long term, highlighting the need to enhance connections between producers and foreign markets to develop infrastructure for storage, packaging, and processing.