Decrease in Wheat Purchase Price in Iran; Chamber of Commerce Official: Food Security at Risk

An official from the Iranian Chamber of Commerce believes that the two thousand tomans reduction in the guaranteed purchase price of wheat announced by the Minister of Agriculture does not align with the economic realities of society and will endanger Iran's food security by discouraging farmers. According to the website 'Arshe Online', Haman Hashemi stated on Thursday, January 18, that wheat is the most strategic national product in terms of its impact on the economy, employment, and food security, and any decision regarding its purchase price will also affect other sectors. The Minister of Jihad Agriculture announced on Wednesday, January 17, that based on 'collective wisdom', the guaranteed purchase price of wheat has been set at 175,000 rials. Meanwhile, Mansour Ali Zarei Kiapi, a parliamentary observer in the Pricing Council, stated in an interview with the 'House of Nation' news agency that the reduction in the guaranteed purchase price of wheat is against the law. This member of the Agricultural Commission said, 'The government has acted contrary to the law in announcing the 17,500 tomans guaranteed purchase price for wheat because according to the minutes of the Pricing Council meeting, a price of 19,500 tomans was approved.' In recent years, the guaranteed purchase price of wheat has been a contentious issue between the government and wheat farmers. Last year, the wheat price was announced at 15,000 tomans, but representatives and agricultural sector activists demanded an increase of at least two thousand tomans. Promises to review the guaranteed purchase price of wheat have been repeatedly announced, and even Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that he issued an order for its correction, but ultimately nothing happened. The government's performance has also raised the voices of its supporters; the heavy shadow of a bread crisis looms in the coming year. Protests by wheat farmers regarding the purchase price continue; the Ministry of Jihad is calling for more financial resources. The Raisi government defends the 15,000 tomans purchase price for wheat; Iraqi brokers are buying at double the price. Wheat smuggling has intensified, and the bakery flour quota has decreased by 60%; the 'bread' alarm has sounded. Wheat pricing is on the path to crisis; the alarm for food security has been sounded. Disputes over the guaranteed purchase price of wheat continue; a member of parliament stated: the Pricing Council is 'obliged' to hold a meeting.