TEHRAN, March 16 (Mehr News Agency) –- Over 400,000 tons of imports could create problems for Iranian farmers, said an official in Tehran on Friday.

Favorable climate this year has compensated for the reduction in the lands allocated to the high-yield rice cultivation, said Iranian Rice Association Secretary Jamil Alizadeh-Shayeq, adding therefore the amount of production has not changed in comparison with the preceding year.

Rice harvesting in Gilan, Iran

He put the nation's rice need at around 2.55 million tons and commented that despite the growth in the population in the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2006), the people's low purchasing power did not allow them to buy enough rice for their daily consumption.

He added that about 2,250,000 tons of rice was produced from Iran's paddy fields this year.

Due to the low prices of the imported rice, the domestically produced products are remaining untouched in the country's grain stores, creating problems for the farmers, he regretted.

Every year, the government sets the prices for its domestic rice purchases within a program called Guaranteed Purchase Plan of Agricultural Products.