Iran produces 90% of rosewater across globe: Guild head
By Sadeq Dehqan &
Reza Abesh Ahmadlou
Staff writers
Iran produces 90% of rosewater in the world, said the head of Kashan Rosewater and Herbal Distillates Guild, adding that the product is used in various food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, which can be the basis for fetching forex revenues for the country.
Raza Navabi told Iran Daily that Iran, being the world’s largest producer of rose and rosewater, can develop various brands from the product, thereby creating economic benefits and wealth for the country.
He added that the rosewater, herbal distillates and essence industry of Iran aims to increase exports to different parts of the world to capture new markets. “If appropriate policies are implemented to increase exports and marketing, it will generate significant revenue for the country.”
To earn more revenue from rosewater and rose, it is necessary to produce various derivatives of these products as well as using modern technologies to increase production along with improving products.
Head of Iranian Agriculture Ministry’s department for medicinal herbs Hossein Zeinali said on May 10 that Iran exported about 519 tons of rose buds and petals worth $2.6 million during the past Iranian year (ended March 19), up 51% and 24% year-on-year in terms of weight and value, respectively.
Meanwhile, Navabi stressed the need for equipping Iran’s plants and factories with modern technologies to meet global standards. He pointed out that, “Every year, a significant portion of this industry’s exports from Iran are in the form of rosewater, rose petals, and rose buds, while several times the value of the country’s exports of the said products are spent on importing floral and other plant essences. These essences, however, can be produced domestically and exported, thereby meeting domestic needs as well as contributing to the economy.”
He pointed to the advantages of cultivating roses and production of rosewater in the country, stating that many areas of Iran are suitable to cultivate rose and produce rose products. Rose can be grown in a wide range of regions, from cold to hot climates, and even in sloped or dry lands.
According to Navabi, many people who live in areas where rose is cultivated are already relying on the cultivation and harvesting of the flower. The production of several derivatives has the potential to bring prosperity to the people living there.
He further explained that the harvesting season of [these kinds of] flowers usually lasts from mid-May to early June, although the exact timing can vary depending on factors such as temperatures and weather patterns from year to year. In some years and regions, rose flowers may be harvested as early as late-March, while in some others they may be harvested in summer months.
“Despite Kashan being the largest producer of rose in Iran, the flower is also cultivated in other regions of the country, including the provinces of Kerman, Fars and Azarbaijan. However, a significant amount of the rose produced in the country is transported to Kashan for processing and packaging after harvesting,” he noted.
Rosewater production is carried out in both traditional small plants and modern factories in Kashan, Navabi said, explaining that the traditional method, which is performed by the locals, has gained much attention which gathers a large number of both domestic and international tourists to the region during the rose harvesting season.
Approximately 1,500 plants producing rosewater and herbal distillates are in Kashan, he noted, adding that Kashan is also home to 40 factories and 80 demo plants involved in the production of rosewater and herbal distillates. These production units are located in Niasar, Qamsar, Barzak, and the central area of Kashan.