According to the state news agency (INA), Iraq has procured 1.5 million metric tons of wheat so far this year, as the country aims to be more self-sufficient in wheat production.
Haider Nouri Al-Karaawi, the general manager of the state-run Grain Board of Iraq, told INA that the procurement has been carried out in all Iraqi provinces except the Kurdistan region.
Iraq’s agriculture ministry had previously stated in April that the country’s wheat harvest is expected to exceed 7 million tons this year.
With a population of more than 43 million, Iraq typically requires between 4.5 million and 5 million tons of wheat annually. The country has been seeking to increase its self-sufficiency in wheat production, despite facing challenges such as dwindling water supplies in its rivers.
To address this, Iraq has been shifting towards growing crops in desert areas using groundwater, in an effort to boost its domestic wheat production and reduce reliance on imports.
The procurement of 1.5 million tons of wheat so far this year represents a significant step towards Iraq’s goal of greater self-sufficiency in the staple grain. However, the country still faces the challenge of meeting its full annual wheat consumption, which may require additional measures and investments in agricultural infrastructure and water management.