The Secretary of the Rice Importers Committee in Iran, Masih Kashavarz, stated that only 15 million citizens in the country (less than 19%) have the ability to purchase rice. In a statement to the newspaper "Hamshahri," Kashavarz announced a significant decrease in rice imports.
The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) had reported earlier that the prices of imported rice rose by about 150% at the beginning of the current Iranian year compared to the same period last year.
The report indicated that the price of one kilogram of rice has increased to over 41,000 tomans, while the price of imported rice has risen to over 30,000 tomans.
Kashavarz noted that the rise in rice prices means that only 15 million Iranians with financial capability can afford to buy it. He emphasized that the country is facing "serious" problems in terms of hard currency.
