Iran: Shrimp industry facing difficulties

Iran's exports of seafood have surpassed US$ 80mn between the period March 2004 and March 2005, which represents a 10% increase over the period between 2003 and 2004. Ali Akbar Khodaei, secretary of Iran Shrimp Producers Association stated that the unwillingness of Bank Keshavarzi (Agriculture Bank) to make investments in the sector has adversely affected the shrimp farmers.

Khodaei stated that the present plight of the shrimp farmers is owing to the government's non-repayment of dues to the shrimp farmers, amounting to IR 60bn (US$ 6.78mn). He also stated that the farmers will be able to raise shrimp production with the repayment of dues to the farmers. He also emphasised that the fall in global shrimp prices and the fixed foreign exchange rates in Iran have posed many challenges for the seafood industry. The per capita seafood consumption has touched 6.2 kilograms by March 2004 and is expected to touch a volume of 10 kilograms towards the close of the fourth five-year plan (2005-2010).