Mr Rokni added that Iran’s per capita chicken consumption stands at 26-27 kg per year, while the global average is 13 to 15 kg, Mehr News Agency reported.

According to Financial Tribune, latest data from the the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration’s shows that Iran exported 16,000 tons of chicken meat worth more than 312.96 billion rials ($7.47 million) during the five months to 22 August, .

The main export destinations for Iranian chicken were Hong Kong, Iraq, Qatar, Vietnam, Taiwan and Macau, Young Journalists Club reported.

According to Mohammad Yousefi, the head of Broiler Breeders Union, last year’s exports stood at about 50,000 tons, down from 80,000 tons in the previous year, registering a 37.5 per cent decline.

"The reason for this decline was that poultry and egg exports from the country had been banned due to the outbreak of avian flu," he said.

H5N8, a dangerous strain of the bird or avian flu virus, was first detected in seven provinces late November last year, but was contained a few months later.