Years of economic sanctions had a profound impact on Iran’s economy, particularly its agricultural sector.
Smallholder farmers, already among the most vulnerable, faced limitations in infrastructure, technology, market access, and capital. With agriculture contributing 9% of Iran’s GDP and employing 16% of its workforce, improving efficiency and productivity became critical.
Semirom County in Esfahan Province, located in Iran’s Central Plateau, is renowned for its apple industry, producing around 10% of the country’s apples. Despite recent efforts to increase production, challenges persist: quality remains inconsistent, farm-gate prices are low, and up to 30% of harvests go to waste or are underutilized. Water scarcity and outdated irrigation practices further exacerbate these issues.
In 2015, participants of the Global Leaders Programme, at the invitation of the local government, visited Esfahan and Semirom to study the apple industry firsthand. Through field research, stakeholder interviews, and site visits, they identified key constraints and developed strategies to strengthen the sector.
Their proposals led to the creation of the SemiromSeeb Company (SSC), designed to generate social and financial returns while improving livelihoods for apple farmers.
The report also outlines enabling policy recommendations, including:
- Establishing a research “centre of excellence” for vocational training in crop and harvest management
- Providing subsidy or tax relief for technical services like water and soil management
- Offering crop and health insurance to support farmer welfare
- Reducing tariffs on imported processing equipment and agricultural inputs
- Supporting a knowledge service platform to enhance access to expertise and best practices
This report presents a roadmap for sustainable development of Iran’s apple sector, combining local insights with global best practices to unlock economic and social value for Semirom’s farming communities.