IRAN : Reducing the National Red meat Deficiency

 

The Deputy Minister of Livestock Production at the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad stated that over the past year, by focusing on activating idle capacities, developing production chains, preserving genetic reserves, and strengthening rural and nomadic livestock farming, effective steps have been taken towards stabilizing production and regulating the country's red meat market.

The Deputy Minister of Livestock Production at the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad cited the assessment of the livestock industry's situation under water stress and drought conditions—aimed at identifying critical regions, forecasting input and water requirements, preserving livestock genetic reserves, and reducing the premature culling of breeding stock—as another initiative of this deputy ministry. He further emphasized that "the lack of [adequate] facilities and weak inter-organizational cooperation have created challenges in this area."

The Deputy Minister stated that contract farming of red meat has also been put on the agenda with the aim of stabilizing production. He added, "Under a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and the Executive Headquarters of Imam's Directive, a national plan to increase production in small rural and nomadic livestock farms has been launched. This plan is slated to be implemented in six provinces and will cover two million head of sheep and goats."

Hassannezhad emphasized, "The Livestock Production Deputy Ministry has pursued a program to establish and develop real value chains in the red meat market with the participation of the Union of Packaging Industries, the Chamber of Guilds, and the country's livestock breeding unions. The objective of this program is to connect livestock breeding associations to the supply chain and eliminate unnecessary intermediaries in the market."