Iraq procures 3.2 million tons of wheat as season winds down in south

BAGHDAD — Iraq has procured 3.194 million tons of wheat so far this season, the Trade Ministry said Saturday, with collection wrapping up across 10 governorates while operations continue in northern and western areas and the Kurdistan Region.

Haider Nouri al-Karaawi, director general of the General Company for Grain Trade, said procurement has ended in nine southern governorates and Baghdad. Collection is ongoing in eight governorates including Anbar, Diyala and other northern and western areas, with operations in Diyala and Salah al-Din expected to conclude in the coming days. Collection will continue in Kirkuk, Nineveh and the three Kurdistan Region governorates, where the season began Friday.

Al-Karaawi said a Council of Ministers decision allowing procurement outside the original plan has already seen additional quantities received, with operations continuing under that directive.

Iraq buys wheat from farmers at subsidized prices above market rates to support domestic production and food security. This season’s price is 700,000 dinars (about $535) per ton for quantities within the approved plan and 500,000 dinars (about $382) per ton for quantities outside it. Based on the government’s target of roughly 5 million tons, the program represents purchases worth up to 3.5 trillion dinars (about $2.7 billion), making it one of Iraq’s largest agricultural support programs.

The season comes after weeks of farmer unrest over reduced purchase prices and delayed payments. Farmers from several central and southern governorates staged repeated protests in Baghdad, including attempts to march on the Green Zone, after the government cut this season’s price from last year’s 850,000 dinars per ton to 700,000 dinars.