In a statement on 1 May, the Ministry claimed that only eight countries have technical and scientific abilities to develop new poultry crossbreeds, and Iran was among them. Currently, 85% of broilers in Iran belong to a Ross crossbreed, and this dependence, the Ministry said, “can endanger the country’s food security.”
There is no official information on the current share of the Arian crossbreed in Iranian broiler meat production. Still, it is believed it has been steadily growing in the past few years.
However, the Arian crossbreed lacked improvements, so much work needs to be done, the Ministry added.
In February of 2022, 180 members of the Iranian Parliament signed a joint statement calling to enhance the development of the Arian crossbreed to get rid of import-dependence on genetics in the poultry industry, which accounted for 70% of protein consumption in Iran.
The Iranian MPs voiced concerns about the continuing sanction pressure of Western countries against Iran, stressing that this policy could one day bar Iranian poultry producers from imported genetics.
A focus on exports
Speaking during a government meeting on 17 April, Seyed Javad Sadati Nejad, Minister of Agricultural Jihad, said that:
Iran was seeking to meet its demand for the Arian crossbreed, but the authorities decided to export some surplus production.
On 25 April, the Ministry approved the export of Arian poultry in limited quantities and hatching eggs, adding that the export quotas could be increased if necessary. However, the Minister admitted that the price of the Arian crossbreed was, on average, 12% higher than other more popular Western crossbreeds.
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State support for farmers
Iran opened a new
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