Government's Stubbornness on Approved Wheat Price and Continued Opposition from Wheat Farmers; 'Review Meeting on Wheat Price' Not Held

Following protests from wheat farmers regarding the government's pricing for guaranteed wheat purchases and the possibility of changes, the head of the Agricultural Guild Chamber of Iran stated that a meeting was supposed to be held in the 'Pricing Council' for a re-evaluation, but this meeting did not take place. Qasem Pishavar, the head of the Agricultural Guild Chamber of Iran, said today, Wednesday, May 10, that two days ago in the 'Agricultural Commission of the Parliament', discussions were held regarding the wheat price, and this commission announced that 'the Pricing Council would hold a meeting again and decide on the wheat price.' He continued, saying that a meeting was supposed to be held yesterday (Tuesday, May 9) in the Pricing Council on this topic, 'but the caretaker of the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture did not request a meeting' and ultimately 'announced the price of 15,000 tomans.' The Ministry of Jihad Agriculture of the Islamic Republic announced on Sunday, May 7, the approval of the guaranteed purchase price of wheat at '15,000 tomans per kilogram' in the Pricing Council and declared this figure as 'final.' However, in response, wheat farmers announced that they would not sell their wheat product to the government for less than '20,000 tomans per kilogram.' Qasem Pishavar expressed uncertainty about the possibility of holding a meeting 'in the coming days' and said that the Agricultural Guild Chamber, the National Wheat Foundation, and farmers did not agree with the price set for wheat because they believe 'if there is no incentive for the farmer, we may need to resort to imports.' Meanwhile, the newspaper 'Javan', affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also noted on Monday, May 8, referring to the naming of the year 1402 by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, as 'Controlling Inflation and Growing Production', stated that with the 'lack of support' for farmers and producers, it seems that in 'coming years', with farmers' reluctance to produce, we will witness 'bartering oil for food' and 'threats to our country's food security.' The occurrence of drought and water shortages, Russia's attack on Ukraine as one of the main centers for grain supply in the world, rising domestic inflation, and the existence of foreign buyers for each kilogram of wheat up to '25,000 tomans' have led farmers to seriously oppose the government's pricing for the current year. The Persian section of 'Voice of America' has previously reported on the new challenges between farmers and the Islamic Republic government regarding the guaranteed purchase price of wheat for the year 1402 and its possible consequences. Farmers are not selling wheat at the government's proposed price; report by Roozbeh Boualeh. Government price: 15,000 tomans per kilogram of wheat; farmers are not selling. The bread controversy in Iran; Sangak bread in-store 5,000 tomans, online 25,000 tomans. Resumption of grain transit from Ukraine; five EU countries have agreed. Criticism of the Raisi government's pricing for wheat purchases; 'illegal' and 'oppressive.'