Baghdad – INA – Amna Al-Salami
The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed today, Saturday, that the measures to support meat prices are not limited to the month of Ramadan and will not stop, noting that it has allocated five billion dinars to support buffalo breeders.
Undersecretary of the Ministry, Mahdi Sahar al-Jubouri, told the (INA): “The government and the ministry have taken several measures and decisions in order to confront the high prices of agricultural commodities and foodstuffs in the month of Ramadan, including allowing the import of live livestock for slaughter purposes and also for breeding purposes, in addition to importing Red meat is one of the infection-free countries, according to the bulletin issued by the World Animal Health Organization, especially after the recent decisions issued by the Council of Ministers to reduce customs duties by 50% on the import of livestock from outside Iraq.”
Al-Jubouri added, “The Ministry will provide support to animal breeders, especially in southern Iraq, and buffalo breeders, worth five billion dinars, in order to purchase feed and distribute it for free, as well as distribute yellow corn to breeders in all governorates of the country at subsidized prices, and also contract with the Ministry of Commerce to distribute bran to… All livestock breeders,” noting that “this measure will contribute to reducing production costs and lowering product prices.”
He stated that “all the decisions taken by the government and the Ministry of Agriculture will work to stabilize the prices of red meat in all governorates during the month of Ramadan and the coming months, and there will also be support for the livestock sector present in Iraq, and thus there will be development of wealth through its renewal by importing livestock for breeding purposes in a way.” Large ones that were previously used for slaughter purposes.”
He explained, “Among the decisions taken by the ministry is also to allow the transfer of livestock between governorates, which will be a positive factor in providing meat throughout Iraq, as well as allowing importers to choose several slaughterhouses for slaughter purposes in several regions of the country, as it will allow the transfer of livestock present in any governorate.” To other governorates and the islands of those livestock, and this factor will reduce the costs borne by the importer, and also borne by the citizen as a cost of production.”
Al-Jubouri stressed that “there is direct coordination between the Ministries of Agriculture and the Interior, represented by the Organized Crime Directorate, and also economic security to limit price manipulation of agricultural and food materials, including red meat, chicken, and table eggs, especially in the month of Ramadan, in addition to the existence of cooperation with investors and producers in Iraq through Major production projects in the field of livestock production and the production of red and white meat and fish, and the release of products during the month of Ramadan will be a positive factor in stabilizing the prices of agricultural commodities.”
Al-Jubouri explained that “the calves that have been imported currently will remain in veterinary quarantine for the purpose of ensuring that they are free of infections, and they will be distributed during this week in all markets in the governorates of Iraq, which will lead to a noticeable decrease in the prices of red meat,” noting that “there are large quantities of livestock that will enter from the northern governorates.” To the markets of the central and southern governorates.