Iran’s per capita dairy consumption currently stands at 117 kilograms per year, which is 48 kilograms lower than the annual global average of 165 kilograms, according to the head of Iran’s Cattle Owners Union.
“Based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s latest report, per capita consumption of these products should stand at 300 kilograms. The government plans to encourage higher consumption in this area to reach the global average by the end of the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan [March 2022],” Ahmad Moqaddasi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Development plans offer a medium-term roadmap designed by the government and parliament to help achieve sustainable growth, outlining strategies in its budget planning for five years.
“At present, some 11 million tons of milk are produced in Iran annually,” the official said, 10% of which are processed into dairy products and exported to 29 countries, including the European Union member states and the US.
Iran’s per capita milk production currently stands at 130 kilograms per year.
Iran is one of the top milk producing countries.
Latest data show Iran exported 331,889 tons of dairy products worth $358.12 million during the first 10 months of last fiscal year (March 21, 2019-Jan. 20)
The tonnage of exports witnessed a 12% rise compared with last year's corresponding period, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration’s Spokesman Rouhollah Latifi.
Iraq was the biggest importer of Iranian dairy products with around $266 million, followed by Afghanistan with about $54 million and Russia with $43 million.
According to Secretary of Iran Dairy Industries Union Reza Bakeri, Iran's dairy industry has created around 120,000 direct and 480,000 indirect jobs.
“More than 2 million people are employed across the dairy production chain from raw materials and input sector to animal farms, factories and the distribution sector,” he said.
