Public Anger over Rising Cost of Chicken

Iranians have taken to social networks to protest against the rising cost of chicken and to initiate a campaign to stabilize the poultry market.

Using Viber, WhatsApp and other social media sites, Tehran-based campaigners expressed their anger over inflated prices, urging people to stop buying chicken in an attempt to bring the price down.

“I appeal to all the people of Iran to participate in this campaign,” one activist said. “I swear nobody gives a damn. For God’s sake, for once, let’s do something. We won’t die if we stop eating chicken.”

“If you want the price of poultry to fall, stop buying it from today for the next 10 days,” read one widely circulated message posted on February 20. “What’ll happen if you and I keep silent? Nothing; the price will rise.”

“This way, we all can play a role in stabilizing market prices,” another post said, inviting people to take action and spread the message.

The price of poultry rose significantly to 8,000 Tomans ($2.5) per kilogram and “will most probably increase to 10,000 Tomans ($3.5) by Nowruz [Iranian New Year],” reported Hamedan Press. The paper also concluded that the increase in prices is due to a “lack of suitable governmental policies.”

Another citizen posted a comment reminding people how effective collective action has been in the past in bringing about change: “Do you remember what happened with sour plums when the price was 7,000 Tomans ($2) per kilo? Nobody bought it. How much is it now? 800 Tomans (25 cents)! Why wouldn’t we do the same with poultry and other expensive commodities? If we stop buying chicken from today, sellers will be left with all the poultry.”

“Fresh chicken was about 8,300 Tomans ($2.8) per kilogram in Tehran’s market yesterday, driving consumers mad,” reported the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Hossein Moqadam-Nia, the head of the poultry producers union, guaranteed that if the government provides producers with poultry feed (soya or corn) in time, the price will drop by May 2015, said a report published on the Shafaf Website.

Moqadam-Nia also said that the rising cost of poultry is caused by the difficulty in securing the necessary credit to import poultry feed, which is also increasingly expensive.

“Those responsible for regulating market prices should announce a base price for producers,” he said. “And if the price drops below that, the authorities should buy the poultry from the producers so that they don’t suffer any losses.”

Read the original article in Persian