Tehran, Iran, July 21
By A. Shirazi - Trend:
The government is importing red meat in a bid to help balance the demand for it in the market, the director general of the Economic Affairs and Commercial Policies Office with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade said.
The government is importing, storing and distributing 120 tons of lamb and mutton on a daily basis to control high prices in the market, Mohammad Reza Kalami Bajestan said, Shata news agency reported.
Convenience stores and key fruit and vegetable markets across the country are receiving the meat and selling to people at a price set jointly by the agriculture ministry and the private sector, he added.
Iran recently placed restrictions on exports of livestock due to a rise in livestock prices in the domestic market.
Iranian officials say that annual agricultural output stands at 120 million tons, valued at $80 million.
The figure includes 82 million tons of crops, 20 million tons of horticultural products, 14 million tons of livestock, and over one million tons of fishery products.