The wholesale prices of various types of domestically produced rice have dropped by at least 10 percent in the country. An Iranian deputy minister of agriculture, has said the prices of domestic rice have dropped between 10 and 18 percent compared to the same time of last year. A further fall in the prices would implicit damage on the farmers, he added that the ministry in order to provide support for the domestic farmers has decided to purchase the product. Iranian farmers provide about two third of the country’s required rice and about 30 percent of the product is imported.