"As has been the case in the past, 10% of the country’s red meat demand have been met via imports while 90% are met domestically. However, proper climate conditions and a rise in livestock breeding have provided an opportunity for the country to fully meet its red meat demand this year," Saeed Soltani was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
A total of 895,000 tons of red meat were produced in Iran and 160,000 tons were imported in the last fiscal year (March 2018-19).
Latest data show 77,000 tons of red meat were produced during the second quarter of the current Iranian year (June 22-Sept. 22) to register a 22% decline compared with the similar period of the year before, according to Financial Tribune.
According to the Statistical Center of Iran, beef accounted for 43,300 tons or 56.2% of the overall production, indicating a year-on-year decrease of 23%.
Moreover, 25,700 tons of lamb (down 21% YOY), 6,100 tons of goat meat (down 26% YOY) and some 1,900 tons of meat from other types of livestock were produced during the three-month period, accounting for 33.3%, 7.9% and 2.6% of the total output respectively, SCI reported on its website.
Red meat production in Q2 witnessed an increase of more than 13% compared to Q1 (March 21-June 21).
The top 10 red meat producing provinces in Iran are Khorasan Razavi, Fars, East Azarbaijan, Mazandaran, West Azarbaijan, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Tehran, Ardabil and Hamedan.
Imports are made from the Commonwealth of Independent States as well as from Brazil and Australia.
Former deputy agriculture minister, Hassan Rokni, told Financial Tribune in an earlier interview that Iran's red meat market is worth 248.793 trillion rials ($1.82 billion).
According to the head of Nomadic Affairs Organization, Karamali Qandali, Iranian nomads supply 25% of the country's demand for red meat.
Tehran hosted the third edition of "Iran International Meat Exhibition", also known as "Iran Meatex 2019", last month.
The expo opened at Tehran’s International Fairground on Tuesday and concluded on Friday.
Representatives of 65 firms participated in the expo, Mehr News Agency reported.