The Qom Meat Poultry Agricultural Cooperative is a member of Iran's Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives, which is a member of ICAO. Founded in 1981 by a small group of poultry farmers and 1,150,000 IRR in capital (roughly 14,500 USD by the 1981 exchange rate), it is now one of Iran's top agricultural cooperatives and operates 380 chicken hatcheries with a combined capacity of 6.5 million eggs per hatching.
Qom has established a complete value chain for its members. It supplies production inputs such as chicks, fuel and feed, the last of which is provided by a feed factory and grain storage facility constructed by the cooperative in 2004. In addition to these inputs, Qom offers a variety of services designed to assist members in the production of high-quality poultry meat products; these services range from a veterinary hospital, which houses a clinic, laboratory and pharmacy, to two slaughterhouses. The poultry meat products that result are packaged and distributed via a marketing service. Qom has 6 brands of poultry meat products, two of which are antibiotic-free; the cooperative and member farmers are currently engaged in the establishment of an organic brand to meet a growing customer demand for such products.
Well aware of the vital role of information and communication, Qom launched a website in 1999; through this, member farmers may access training programs, among other things. In 2003, it also began publishing a quarterly on the poultry industry. What's more, in recognition of the long-term value of education for its members, Qom has invested in a variety of training programs. Whether in the poultry barns or at the computer, these programs seek to both promote the use of best practices by members and encourage the young to take part in the agricultural sector.