More than 8.5 billion dollars foreign currency is taken out of the country to import livestock feed
ITPNews
IRAN - Statistics show that 15 to 18 million tons of livestock feed are imported into the country every year, and therefore, in some years, more than 8.5 billion dollars of foreign currency is taken out of the country to buy these feed.
According to the annual statistics of white and red protein inputs, the figure is about 21 million tons including 10 million tons of corn, 5 million tons of soybeans, and 7 million tons of barley, of which 1 million tons of corn, 4 million tons of barley, and 300 thousand tons of soybean meal are domestically produced. And the rest is supplied through imports.
The head of the research and training center for agriculture and natural resources of Tehran province said: “in line with the optimal use of water and energy in about 800 hectares of land, the model of winter fodder cultivation is implemented with the participation of the private sector so that by changing the pattern of low water fodder cultivation, we can increase surface unit production.
Referring that Tehran province has the largest area under fodder and corn cultivation in the country, the head of the Research and Training Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Tehran said: “It has more than 6 thousand hectares and in order to change the planting pattern and increase water efficiency, there is a good cooperation with the private sector. In this way, the new planting method reduces water consumption by more than 35%.”
Annual import of 18 million tons of livestock feed to the country
According to annual statistics, 15 to 18 million tons of livestock feed including corn, barley, and soybean meal – processed grain or meal – are imported into the country, and the annual exchange rate of these items is somewhat different.” said a member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Importers of Livestock and Poultry feed.
The member of the board of directors of the Union of Livestock and Poultry Feed Importers stated that the supply of livestock Feed is necessary for food security and per capita consumption of protein in the society, and added: Governments have prevented the effect of temporary increases in world prices in reducing production and consumption by making policies. But of course, the price fluctuations of the world markets have an effect on the per capita consumption and access of the society to animal protein.
The policy of extraterritorial cultivation has not and will not have any effect on the foreign exchange of the import of these items, because despite this policy, we have never seen any cheaper imports from this place compared to the current prices, but more capital and financial resources must be exported from the country for cultivation in the third country.
60 percent decrease in feed import by internal production
Referring that the largest amount of imported feed is dedicated to corn and barley, the head of the Livestock Suppliers Council said: There is a possibility of production and self-sufficiency in products such as corn and barley, but due to the lack of a plan and purchase support, the production is not responsible, while with the support of the Ministry of Jihad Shahid There will be a decrease in input dependence, foreign exchange outflow and production growth, in which case the dependence rate will decrease significantly.