Title: Key Pricing Committee Meeting Concludes as Government Weighs New Wheat Support Policy
A Crucial Deliberation for Farmers and the Market
TEHRAN – A pivotal meeting of the Council for Pricing and Supportive Policies of Essential Agricultural Products was convened this Tuesday at the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad. The session, which was anticipated to finalize the guaranteed purchase price of wheat for the upcoming 1404-1405 agricultural year, concluded without a definitive announcement, continuing a delay of several months past the typical schedule.
Stakeholders at the Table
The high-level council is composed of a diverse group of nine voting members. This includes four representatives from various agricultural organizations, two expert farmers, and three senior officials from the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, and the Planning and Budget Organization. In a supervisory capacity, two representatives from the Agriculture Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also attend the sessions.
A Gap in Figures
Reports from the meeting indicate that a central point of discussion was the cost of production. Members representing the private agricultural sector have presented data suggesting the cost for one kilogram of wheat, adjusted for inflation and standard profit margins, stands at approximately 32,000 tomans. However, state representatives have not yet aligned with this figure, leading to the current impasse and preventing the finalization of the new guaranteed price.
Pending Payments and Future Hopes
For the current year, the guaranteed price was set at 20,500 tomans per kilogram for standard wheat and 21,000 tomans for durum wheat. It is noted that a portion of the payments owed to wheat farmers for their current harvest remains outstanding.
With the delay extending beyond the customary timeframe, it is anticipated that the matter of the wheat price will be brought before the Cabinet for review. Farmers across the nation are hopeful that with the direct attention of the President, a resolution and a new price structure will be established promptly.
Once the council reaches a consensus on the price for this strategic commodity—which also serves as a benchmark for 31 other essential agricultural products—the Minister of Agricultural Jihad, as the council’s head, will have one week to officially announce the approved rate.