Tehran, Iran – The Iran Poultry Federation has urgently called on the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad to expedite state-controlled imports of essential feedstuffs to prevent further damage to the poultry farming sector. In an open letter, Farzad Talakash, the Federation’s secretary, emphasized the ongoing monthly imbalances in importing key feed commodities—corn, soybeans, and soybean meal—despite seemingly adequate raw figures.
Iran’s poultry industry, a crucial protein source, faces a severe feed shortage, casting doubt on government efforts to stabilize the situation.
Annually, Iran imports approximately 8 million metric tons of corn, 4.2 million tons of soybean meal, and 400,000 metric tons of barley for animal feed. However, reports suggest that Iran may need to purchase from intermediaries at an additional cost of $30 to $40 per ton to secure the necessary corn.
This predicament has severely impacted the domestic market. Local business groups estimate a 50% drop in demand for red meat over the past year, resulting in one in three families being unable to afford red meat. The consumption of chicken meat and eggs has also been significantly affected.