The head of Iran’s National Wheat Farmers Foundation, referring to an “unprecedented drought” in the past sixty years, expressed hope that wheat production would remain similar to last year. Meanwhile, the state-run Mehr News Agency wrote that due to last year’s drought, wheat production had dropped by more than 30%.
Ataollah Hashemi told the state-run Mehr News Agency on Saturday, November 29, that there has been no rainfall this autumn so far and that “the amount of precipitation has been almost zero.”
He added that some farmers have begun planting and are waiting for rain, while others are waiting for the soil to gain enough moisture before planting.
Hashemi noted that about 80% of rainfed (dryland) wheat fields were damaged in the 2024–2025 agricultural year and added that irrigated wheat yields are twice those of rainfed fields, and last year some of the damage was compensated through irrigated cultivation.
According to the report, yield in rainfed fields is 1,200 kilograms, while the figure for irrigated fields is 4,200 kilograms. Currently, four million hectares of wheat farmland are rainfed and two million hectares irrigated.
Hashemi said: “If, according to the Meteorological Organization’s forecasts, the drought trend continues, then despite irrigated wheat cultivation, the production of this strategic crop will be in a more unbalanced condition compared to last year.”
He also mentioned other problems wheat farmers face, including the supply of imported fertilizers, the risk of locust infestations, and fuel provision.
Tehran’s Subsidence and Drying Wetlands Reveal New Dimensions of Iran’s Water Crisis
Hashemi also called on the government to pay its debt to the Agricultural Insurance Fund in order to strengthen the fund and support farmers.
A 50% reduction in agriculture’s share of water
The Mehr News Agency also noted that Iran has been experiencing drought for several years, writing: “The decline in water stored behind dams has caused the agricultural sector’s water share to drop by more than 50%.”
The agency reported: “Due to last year’s drought, wheat production fell by more than 30%, and farmers delivered about eight million tons of wheat to the government.”
Concerns over declining wheat production and financial losses among farmers come as a report by Iran’s Water Resources Management Company shows that from September 23 to November 4, twenty of Iran’s thirty-one provinces did not witness “a single drop of rainfall.”
According to the report, rainfall in Iran during this period shows a 77% decrease.
In this regard, Mohammadreza Kavianpour, head of the Water Research Institute, emphasized the need for a “change in approach” in agricultural and industrial water consumption on September 22, saying that the country must “move toward producing crops with higher added value that ensure real food security.”
He added: “People, farmers, and industries must prepare for these times. In this regard, industries and farmers must change their practices and base their models on new technologies.”
Meanwhile, government officials have so far said little about their plans to secure food supplies in the event of reduced crop production. This comes as the latest inflation report from Iran’s Statistical Center shows that point-to-point inflation for bread and cereals in September reached its highest level since July 2022, with bread inflation estimated at nearly 100%.
The state-run EcoIran website reported on November 21 that studies show monthly inflation for bread and cereals has sharply increased since December of last year, rising from around 3% to nearly 17% in July 2025 — the highest level since 2022.
In recent months, as the water crisis has intensified, officials of Iran’s regime have repeatedly blamed the public and urged citizens to “save water,” warning about declining dam reserves.
On the other hand, despite repeated warnings about water resource management, no clear or sustainable plan has been presented, and in some cases temporary province-wide shutdowns have been used as emergency measures.
