Warning of a Possible Repeat Rice Market Crisis
CEO of “Kourosh Rice Agro-Industry” Calls for Fair Pricing of Iranian Rice
Ahmad Jabarian, CEO of Kourosh Rice Agro-Industry, in an interview published by FoodPress, warned that without targeted government intervention, the rice market may once again face sharp price hikes similar to last year.
He noted that in autumn of the previous year, the consumer price of domestic rice surged to over 200,000 tomans, despite its real value being less than 100,000 tomans—leaving farmers with little to no share of the profits.
Jabarian welcomed the Ministry of Agriculture’s new approach in providing more accurate production data, but cautioned that drought in southern provinces, including Khuzestan, could reduce this year’s estimated official production of 1.6 million tons. He added that, based on current market conditions, a fair initial purchase price for premium varieties such as Tarom and Hashemi at the beginning of the harvest season would likely range between 120,000 and 140,000 tomans
Highlighting the extensive activity of brokers in pre-purchasing paddy in northern provinces, he identified this as a major driver of early market volatility. Jabarian urged the government to set appropriate guaranteed purchase prices and enforce effective regulatory policies to prevent speculative capital from destabilizing the rice market.
He concluded: “The only sustainable way to stabilize the market and ensure real support for farmers is through fair price-setting based on reliable data and active participation across the entire production-to-consumption chain.”
Kourosh Rice Agro-Industry, led by Mr. Ahmad Jabarian, is a specialized subsidiary of the Hotro Group, engaged in the production, sourcing, and processing of various rice products under well-known brands such as Famila, Sahel-Kenar, Khoshe-San, Khosh-Nesha, and others. The company is recognized as one of the key players in Iran’s rice market.
