Claims of 'Self-Sufficiency' by Officials Under the Shadow of Empty Tables

Responsible officials in the livestock and agriculture industry report that the country has achieved 'self-sufficiency' in the production of meat, chicken, and eggs, stating that Iran has transformed from a 'pure importer' to an 'exporter of livestock products.' Meanwhile, statistical reports and market conditions indicate an 80% increase in the prices of these products, the removal of meat and chicken from the tables of many households, and a decrease in people's purchasing power. In a report from the government news agency ISNA, Mansour Pourian, head of the Livestock Supply Council, claims that 'before the revolution, Iran was dependent on imports for red meat, with the country's needs mainly supplied by Australia and the USA.' He emphasizes that after the revolution, this trend changed and 'Iran moved towards domestic production.' According to him, in 2001, livestock production reached its 'peak,' and 'from 2001 to 2013, livestock exports were carried out regularly.' Pourian, contradicting his previous interviews, claimed that 'in 2015, Iran recorded its highest level of exports, and 80 to 90 percent of the country's meat needs are met by domestic production.' He had stated in 2022 to the economic magazine Nood that 'a few years ago, we were the eighth largest exporter of livestock in the world, but due to the mismanagement of officials, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, which are landlocked countries, took our markets.' In another part of the ISNA report, Mohammad Ebrahim Hassan Nejad, Deputy for Livestock Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, states that annual chicken production has reached about 3 million tons, and egg production has exceeded 1.3 million tons. This government official also claims that 'the amount of red meat produced domestically is 923 thousand tons' and adds that 'except for a limited section supplied through imports, Iran has achieved self-sufficiency in livestock product production.' However, reports from the Statistical Center and statements from economic experts indicate that livestock product production has not facilitated people's access but has gradually been removed from household baskets. A review of reports published in Iranian media shows that in recent months, the food basket has endured a new inflation of at least 30%, and recently, a 25% increase in intercity bus ticket prices has been authorized. According to these statistics, one-third of food items last year experienced price increases between 30% and 50%, and one-fourth of them saw increases of over 50%. Reports citing official statistics show that sugar has increased by 66%, Iranian rice by 56%, and cooking oil by 40% in the past December compared to the same month last year. Additionally, protein items also experienced price increases, with chicken meat rising by 40% and red meat by 39%. Potatoes, as one of the cheapest food items, have recorded a price increase of 103% over the past year. Previously, Faramarz Tofighi, a labor activist, criticized the economic and living conditions of the people, stating that 'in the very near future, red meat will not even be found on workers' tables once a month. The prices of bread, meat, and dairy have risen; eggs have increased by 80% in the last couple of months; the Statistical Center does not announce these field prices; the real inflation of workers' lives is over 50 or 60%.' Some independent experts believe that Iran's economic conditions, especially if sanctions continue, could worsen, leading to increased inflation and reduced access to essential goods. The wave of price increases has also reached potatoes; danger lurks for the tables. Labor activists criticize the 'minimum wage' and demand a '50% increase.' One-fourth of food items are facing inflation of over 50%. A pharmacist told Voice of America: the production cost of some medicines has increased by up to 200%.