Food prices in Iran: The government subsidy in the "22 Bahman Livelihood Support" plan is equivalent to the price of just one kilo of rice

The price of food, including meat, rice, and potatoes, continues to rise in various regions of Iran. At the same time, the Iranian government's support plan is of little value.

According to reports, the price of a kilo of Iranian rice has increased to around 100,000 tomans in recent days, and potatoes are being sold for 20,000 tomans per kilo in some areas of Tehran. The price of meat has also been reported to be up to "200,000 tomans" in some neighborhoods.

Ebrahim Raisi has ordered that 100,000 Tomans be paid to subsidy recipients as part of the "Livelihood Support on the Occasion of Bahman 22" plan.

"Miarjal," a local news outlet in Sistan and Baluchestan province, in a field report on the severe shortage of bread in the province, echoed the statements of a woman who said: "Foreign rice costs 40,000 to 50,000 tomans per kilo. With so many heads of household, where will we get the money to buy it? There is no bread either. We have to pay 30,000 tomans to go to the bakery to buy a few loaves of bread."

Mansour Ali Zarei, a representative from Sari in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated that two million tons of Iranian rice have been produced and about 800,000 tons have been imported, and considered the renewed increase in rice prices to be "the result of a lack of market monitoring."

In a report on Thursday, February 11, ISNA news agency quoted a Sari representative as saying that Iranian rice worth 90,000 tomans was "purchased from farmers for 30,000 tomans."

Also, according to Mehr News Agency, Ismail Qaderifar, Deputy Minister of Agricultural Jihad, said that smart and online distribution of Thai, Pakistani, and Indian rice, as well as potatoes, has begun, and frozen meat will be distributed online starting next week.

While declaring the "strategic reserves of red meat" to be "very good," he said, "The distribution of meat will be frozen and there is currently no infrastructure for the distribution of hot meat."

Qaderifar announced that the approved price for online distribution of frozen meat has not yet been determined, adding that its price will be determined and announced during today's market regulation meeting.

While the price of potatoes in some areas of Tehran has reached "up to 20,000 tomans," the Deputy Minister of Agriculture said that online distribution of potatoes has begun at a price of 9,800 tomans and promised that next week potatoes "will be at a maximum price of 10,000 tomans in retail stores."

At the same time, social media users have protested the high prices of basic goods and food supplies.

Majid Dori, a civil activist and former political prisoner, has compared workers' income and prices in 1978 and 1979, alluding to the Islamic Revolution's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling it an "explosion of light."

Journalist Sadegh Hosseini compared the price of rice in 1400 with the price of the Bahar Azadi coin in 1381 in a tweet.

Journalist Ehsan Badaghi also tweeted: "The most symbolic news about the state of the country on the eve of the 43rd anniversary of the revolution; by order of the president, 100,000 tomans will be deposited as a livelihood support plan subsidy on the occasion of Bahman 22. The equivalent of one kilogram of rice."

The Deputy Minister of Agricultural Jihad announced the online distribution price of Thai rice at 12,500 Tomans, Pakistani rice at 20,500 Tomans, Indian rice at 18,500 Tomans, and "Shirodi rice" at 42,000 Tomans, and said: "Rice will also be distributed in chain stores at the same announced prices starting Thursday, February 11."

Stating that "about 50 percent" of the Eid fruit will also be distributed online "from March 10," Qaderifar said that its price has not yet been approved, "but it will be at least 30 percent lower than the market price."

Source: Voice of America