Iran’s Customs Administration has reported that Iran exported cattle hides and skins worth US$19.6 million in the first quarter of the current Iranian year (March 21 – June 20, 2002), according to the IRNA news agency. The figure was higher than in the same period last year.

The severe earthquake that hit Iran’s Qazvin province in July caused substantial losses to provincial livestock breeders, according to IRNA. The head of Qazvin’s agricultural department said that at least 25 billion rials (US$1 = 1,750 rials) is needed to put livestock farms back into operation.