TEHRAN (ISNA) -- Iran exported 10 million cut flowers in the year to March 2006, when it produced 2.2 billion stalks of flowers, said the head of Tehran province Flowers and Flora Association. Soltan-Mohammadi said that some 1.2 billion stalks of flower were produced during March September 2006.

“The country currently exports half a million dollar worth of flowers a month,” he said, adding that exports are expected to increase to $800,000-$900,000 a month in the coming months due to growing demand in Europe.

“Demand for Iranian flowers is on the rise due to winter frosts in Europe,” he said.

The official said Iran has the capacity to become one of the world’s largest exporters of flowers.

He said there are 2,200 hectares of greenhouse in Tehran Province, adding that most of the greenhouses are located in impoverished south Tehran area where there are limited technical facilities for flower production.

“High prices of plastic bags, pesticides and fertilizers as well as poor scientific knowledge and technologies are among the challenges to the flower industry,” he said.

Soltan-Mohammadi said earlier that Iran produces high quality flowers, stressing that the country needs to showcase the product at international exhibitions.

Experts say once the construction of flower export terminals is completed, the country will be able to claim one percent of the world flower trade.

Nasser Shahnoushi, a faculty member at Mashhad’s Ferdowsi University, says marketing and transportation are the greatest challenges facing Iran’s flower production and exports, adding that inadequate water resources are also a predicament.

He criticized the industry for exporting flowers mostly to the Persian Gulf Arab states, stressing that Southeast Asian markets as well as European countries could provide Iran’s flora sector with favorable opportunities.