TEHRAN -- South Khorasan Province, located in the northeast of Iran, is considered the largest producer of protein products in the eastern part of the country.

Production of red meat in South Khorasan Province is expected to increase from 19,300 tons in the past year (Iranian year ended March 20) to 20,260 tons in 2009-2010, the head of the Agricultural Jihad Organization of South Khorasan Province predicted.

Also, by the end of the nation’s Fourth Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2005-2010), production of other farm products in the region is expected to increase significantly, with milk production rising from 94,575 tons to 114,400 tons, chicken meat from 33,722 tons to 39,230 tons, eggs from 3,463 tons to 4,063 tons and honey from 18 tons to 24 tons, a report on Friday quoted him as saying.

“Despite the recurrent droughts in the region, we are not lagging behind the development plan objectives in producing most of the farm products,” the provincial official commented.