TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Iranian farmers have produced around 478 million chicken by mid Summer, which is 20% higher than the corresponding period last year, while there is still 30% further capacity left idle, a senior agricultural official said.
Morteza Rezayee, a senior official from Iran’s agriculture ministry, said that chicken breeding had increased by 20 percent between March and July this year compared to the similar period in 2018.
He said production of layers and broilers reached around 478 million in the summer, saying breeding numbers could top 125 million in late September, a significant surge compared to figures recorded last year.
The official said, however, that increased production came as Iran had still 30 percent of idle capacity in the poultry industry.
He said breeders could increase their output if they were given guarantees about the future situation in the domestic market.
Rezayee said increased production and overcapacity meant Iran had no need to import chickens from abroad.
A heavy consumer of chickens and eggs, Iran is one of the biggest producers of the poultry data-x-items in the world.
The industry is heavily regulated, however, as many farmers rely on cheap diesel to run hatcheries and the government has a close watch on the sector as it plays a huge role in food security in the country.
Iranian government has turned its direction after the US imposed unilateral sanctions against the country’ oil and gas industry with putting its weight behind developments in non-oil economy.