Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 9 / Trend F.Mehdi/
Iran is near to attaining self-sufficiency in producing red meat as just 10 per cent of the domestic need is currently imported, IRNA quoted Saeid Soltani-Sarvestani, the managing director of the national union of livestock farmers, as saying.
"Plans are underway to increase red meat production and reduce market prices," he added.
Currently around 970,000 tons of red meat is produced in the country he said, adding that the figure is projected to be boosted by 705,000 tons over the course of five years.
On October 22, 2012, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi rejected the idea of reinventing the coupon-based supply of staple foods.
The Donya-ye Eqtesad daily quoted Rahimi as saying that reserves of staple foods, such as rice, meat, milk and edible oil are sufficient and there is no need to re-launch the coupon-based system.
Meanwhile, member of the Iranian parliament's economic committee Arslanan Fathipour has said Iran might be implementing electronic discount cards for strategic products.
Fathipour said that given today's economic situation in the country and imposed international sanctions, the vouchers must be brought back in the shape of electronic coupons.
This would be the second time Iran is using such strategy to support its economy. After the Islamic Revolution in 1981 the country was experiencing a great deficit of some foods and services.
At that time there was an order to implement special discount coupons for 10 emergency first products and services to reduce the overall prices. After the economy stabilised, Iran cancelled the discount coupons.