Analysis of Damask Rose Development Policy in Iran

Given the consequences of climate change impacts on production and economic situation of Agriculture Sector of Iran, as emphasized by both the National Document for Development of Medicinal Plants and the Sixth Five Year Development National Plan of Iran, the area under cultivation of medicinal plants should increase from 16506 hectares (19 percent of which is already under cultivation of damask rose) to 50000 hectares by the end of the development plan. However, since the damask rose production yield in many provinces is relatively low and the level of active ingredients is not at a high enough level, the production of this flower may not be economically advisable. This study was conducted in descriptive and analytical methods using SWOT matrix for analyzing the primary and secondary data obtained from documents as well as field visits through deep interviews. The study results indicated that the damask rose development policy should focus on programs and activities aiming at increasing the production yield and improving the quality of flowers as well as the diversification of processed products, instead of emphasizing on increase in the area under cultivation; in addition, the damask rose processing mills should not limit their activities to the rose water, rather the rose oil, rose concrete and absolute should be induced to produce for using whole plant potentials.