In the first quarter of the fiscal year, Iran's agrifood exports reached 2.4 million tons, valued at $1.22 billion, marking a 17.3% increase in weight but a 1.1% decrease in value from the previous year. The main exports were watermelon, pistachio, tomato, apple, orange, milk powder, melon, and cocoa-free sweets, with Iraq, the UAE, Afghanistan, India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Germany being the primary importers. However, the export of watermelon, which requires a large amount of water, has been criticized due to Iran's water crisis, particularly during a drought that has caused losses worth 670 trillion rials (2.7 billion) to the agriculture sector since the beginning of the current crop year. The decline in precipitation, increased heatwaves, and evaporation have also led to a rise in water shortage across the country, affecting 92% of its area.