MojNews-Hossein Shirzad, who is also the CEO of the Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran (CORC) said since in the previous cropping year (started in the mid-September, ۲۰۱۸); many of tomato farmers, farmed tomato with observing no cultivation pattern, the national tomato market faced with the overproduction challenges. Supporting the farmers as well as the final consumers, the ministry, purchased the excess volume to be processed and reserved.

" CORC had been purchasing about ۳۰۰,۰۰۰ tone raw tomatoes directly from the small scale farmers. The crops have been processed in the standard tomato processing factories through contracting nationwide", he added.

Clarity, easy access information and fair opportunities are of the advantage of supplying tomato paste through IME , the official asserted, adding that the gradual supplying the tomato paste will sustain the national market, as well.