Women Farmers Lead Iran’s Pistachio Revival

Iran’s Pistachio Belt Battles Water Stress

In the pale light of early morning in Rafsanjan, at the heart of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s pistachio-producing region, Maryam Gholam Alizadeh walks between rows of low, spreading trees whose leaves cling to the faintest trace of moisture. On a single hectare of increasingly dry land, more than 700 pistachio trees depend on her close attention. She pauses frequently, studying the texture of a leaf or pressing the soil beneath it, reading signs that leave little margin for error in a landscape shaped by heat, water scarcity and environmental stress.

At 42, Maryam brings more than six years of orchard management experience to her work. Trained in agricultural research, she returned to farming out of personal interest and a deep connection to local tradition. She first learned from experienced growers in her community, then refined her approach through observation and practice in her own fields. That blend of formal training and field-based learning has become essential as conditions grow more unpredictable.

“In recent years, we had many problems,” she says. “Low water-use efficiency reduced productivity, and extreme weather affected the trees.”

Water shortages and climate variability have become defining challenges in Rafsanjan, where pistachio cultivation anchors both local livelihoods and national exports. During the growing season, Maryam’s days are deliberate and tightly scheduled. She manages pests, prunes damaged branches and adjusts irrigation practices in response to stress signals from the trees. Even small miscalculations can ripple across an entire harvest.

Another persistent threat is aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin is a toxic substance produced by certain fungi that can develop when pistachios are exposed to high humidity, pest damage or inadequate handling. Once present, it can result in shipments being rejected in export markets, undermining farmer incomes and affecting the competitiveness of one of the country’s most important crops.

To help growers address these pressures, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) partnered with Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad and worked closely with the Pistachio Research Institute to organise targeted training sessions. The programme focused on practical, research-based techniques that farmers could apply directly in their orchards, particularly to improve water-use efficiency, respond to climate variability and strengthen quality control.

As part of the initiative, experts also visited specialised laboratories to assess sampling procedures and analytical methods used to detect aflatoxin contamination in pistachios. The results of these assessments, aligned with internationally recognised standards, were shared with technicians, researchers and technical institutions. The aim was to reinforce quality assurance across the pistachio value chain, from orchard to export.

For Maryam, the impact of the training was tangible. After applying the new techniques, orchard management became more predictable, tree health stabilised, and yields improved gradually. “Many problems became easier to solve once we understood the causes,” she says. The knowledge strengthened not only her own production but also her standing within the farming community. She now shares what she has learned with neighbouring growers, contributing to broader resilience in the region.

Nationally, the pistachio programme has strengthened the technical capacities of more than 700 growers, processors, traders, extension officers and laboratory specialists across Iran’s main pistachio-producing provinces. The sector spans over 445,000 hectares and represents more than 21 per cent of the country’s bearing orchards, underscoring its economic weight even as it faces mounting environmental strain.

Maryam’s commitment extends beyond seasonal yields. As the mother of three children, she hopes to pass on both the tradition of pistachio cultivation and the technical skills needed to sustain it under changing conditions. Standing among her trees, she reflects on what they represent. “Pistachios are more than a crop,” she says, gently turning a leaf in her hand. “They are our heritage, our family’s income and our future.”

Her story forms part of a wider global recognition of women’s contributions to agriculture during the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, which highlights the essential role of women producers, fishers, pastoralists, traders, scientists and rural entrepreneurs in strengthening food security, nutrition and rural livelihoods. Despite heavier workloads and unequal access to resources in many contexts, women continue to sustain agrifood systems. The observance calls for sustained investment and collective action to build a more inclusive and resilient future.

In Iran’s pistachio belt, resilience is being shaped not only by rainfall, but by knowledge, adaptation and the steady judgement of farmers like Maryam—reading the soil at dawn and preparing for a drier tomorrow.

Source: The FAO News And Media Office, Rome

– global bihari bureau