Agricultural trade between Russia, Iran up 20% in 9M - AgMin

MOSCOW. Nov 27 (Interfax) - Agricultural trade between Russia and Iran grew 20% in the first nine months of this year, the Agriculture Ministry reported following a meeting between Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut and Iran's Minister of Agriculture Jihad Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh.

Apart from that, Russia resumed exports of mineral fertilizers to Iran.

As well as the development of mutual trade, the ministers discussed prospects for cooperation in veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance. They also addressed collaboration in scientific and technical fields - in particular, plant breeding and seed production, livestock farming, veterinary vaccine production, implementing advanced agricultural technologies and agricultural education.

"Iran is one of Russia's most important and biggest partners in the agricultural field," the ministry's statement reads.

Lut also discussed prospects for cooperation in the agricultural sector with Afghanistan's acting Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mawlavi Ataullah Omari.

"In recent years, agricultural trade between Russia and Afghanistan has been growing. Russian exports form the basis of this mutual trade - flour, sunflower oil and sugar are supplied to the Afghan market. For its part, Russia mainly imports raisins and almonds," the press release reads.