Harvesting rice from northern Iran's paddy fields

Rice is a staple crop in Iran, and the northern province of Mazandaran is one of the country’s most important rice-growing regions. Each year, farmers in Mazandaran harvest about one million metric tons of rice, which accounts for 42% of the country's annual consumption. The paddy fields of the province are a vital source of income for the people of this region. (IRNA photos/Mehdi Mohebbipour)