Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
From the beginning of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), 132,000 tons of red meat was imported to Iran up until February, Masoud Basiri, head of the Main Directorate for Market and Strategic Reserves Management of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, told Mehr, Trend reports.
According to Basiri, this figure stood at 111,000 tons last year (starting March 21, 2017).
"As to the import of mutton, if 14,500 tons were imported last year, this figure reached 35,600 tons this year, which, in turn, shows an increase of about 146 percent,” he said.
He added that the increase in foreign currency for imports was 22 percent too.
"In current conditions, even if the needed 960,000 tons of meat is imported, the market demand will still remain," he said.
According to Basiri, no problems have arisen with imports. Meat imports are permitted with compliance to health and quarantine rules.
Basiri added that there is an increase both the number of countries for meat imports and in the variety of imported meat.
"There are some problems with the transit of foreign currency, and these problems are being solved," he said.
Basiri said that the Ministry of Agriculture aims for the market to be stabilized by Novruz and Ramadan celebrations, adding that adjusted programs and decisions will further stabilize the market in the future, and that strategic resources are sufficient.
"Iran is currently utilizing its imports rather than reserves," he said.
The price of mutton in Iran has recently exceeded one million rials (app. $23.8), which has caused serious dissatisfaction.