GTC is a government-owned company specializing in the purchase, import and distribution of essential foodstuff. It is the lever for enforcing market controls.
The company is also in charge of maintaining a supply of wheat, rice, cooking oil and meat as the country’s strategic reserve of essential goods, IRNA reported.
According to Jamil Alizadeh Shayeq, the head of Iran Rice Council, about 2.25 million tons of rice were produced in Iran in the last Iranian year (March 2016-17) and this year’s output is expected to hit the same level, according to Financial Tribune.
Iranians consume about 3.2 million tons of rice a year.