An Analysis of Egg Supply Chain in Iran

The supply chain starts at the production of primary products and ends with the consumption of final product. This chain includes all the economic activities taken place within the various stages of input, production, processing, distribution, wholesale and retail. Regarding the supply chain of agricultural products, timely and sufficient supply of scarce, high-quality inputs at reasonable prices, facilitating the farmer's access to production inputs, reducing the risk of production, increasing the capacity of warehousing and storing products, improving the transportation system and appropriate distribution, internal and external marketing and export of agricultural products can lead to timely meeting the needs of consumers, reducing exchange costs and waste, increasing the income and profitability of producers, creating employment and improving food security.

This study aimed at investigating the links of the egg value chain components in descriptive methods.

The study results indicated that the major challenges from production to egg supply included exhaustion of buildings and equipment of laying hens, import dependency on inputs, increased exchange rate, lack of liquidity, price fluctuation and government interventions (especially the export ban).

Conclusion and Suggestions: 

Based on the study findings, in order to solve the existing challenges, it is suggested that production planning be based on the discovery and stabilization of export markets. In addition, facilitating exports and preventing inappropriate interventions by the government, granting bank facilities to support the development of poultry feed factories, especially mechanized factories for the production of feed for laying hens, and increasing public awareness about egg consumption through educational, promotional and cultural programs as well as supporting consumers in the first five income deciles are other important issues that can lead to the prosperity of the chicken and egg industry in Iran.