Gov’t Stocks Red Meat, Chicken for Norouz

Close to 25,000 tons of red meat and 50,000 tons of chicken have been stocked to adjust prices in the domestic market, says the CEO of Livestock Affairs Support Company, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“The reserved meat will be distributed in the market during the Norouz [the Iranian New Year] holidays and whenever demand goes up,” Alireza Vali was also quoted as saying by ILNA.

The upcoming Iranian New Year’s holidays start on March 21, 2017.

The official noted that more than 800,000 tons of red meat are domestically produced every year, adding that domestic demand stands at around 900,000 tons per annum.

“The 100,000-ton deficit is made up by imports, mainly from Brazil,” he said.

Iran’s per capita chicken consumption stands at 26 kilograms a year, which is 11 kilograms more than the global average, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Domestic chicken production stands at more than 2 million tons per year, which suffices domestic demand.

The domestic poultry industry is home to 27,700 registered broiler chicken units, IRNA reported.

Iran is the world’s sixth and Asia’s third largest producer of chicken, according to Iran Veterinary Organization.

The relatively small amount of capital required to start business in the field, the short period at which chicken can be marketed and their simple feed are among reasons for chicken production’s popularity with investors in Iran.