The Kurdistan Region’s Investment Board has approved a new plan to support local farmers by allowing private companies and traders to purchase surplus wheat. The initiative aims to help producers sell this year’s Kurdistan wheat harvest after the Iraqi government limited its official purchases.
The Investment Board announced that 11 companies and traders have expressed their readiness to buy wheat that the Iraqi government will not accept. Additionally, these buyers plan to export the grain to international markets, providing farmers with an alternative sales channel.
According to the board, the decision will help protect farmers from financial losses while ensuring that unsold wheat reaches commercial markets instead of remaining in storage.
Hemn Sayed Murad, Director General of Agriculture in Erbil, said authorities have coordinated with the participating companies and traders. He explained that farmers with ready-to-sell wheat can contact the approved buyers directly. Therefore, the companies will inspect the grain before completing the purchase.
Trader Younis Hassan, one of the approved buyers, said wheat prices have not yet been officially fixed. Instead, companies will purchase the grain based on daily market prices and commodity exchange rates. He noted that the final price will depend on market conditions at the time of sale.
The Investment Board has encouraged farmers to visit their local agriculture directorates for guidance on the sales process and contact information for the approved companies.
The Kurdistan Region expects a strong Kurdistan wheat harvest this year. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources estimates total production will reach 2 million tons. However, the Iraqi government has agreed to purchase only 400,000 tons.
Official figures show that Kurdistan’s silos have already received nearly 300,000 tons of wheat. Furthermore, collection operations continue across Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Halabja.
Under Baghdad’s purchasing plan, 292,000 tons of wheat grown within the government’s cultivation plan will be purchased for 700,000 Iraqi dinars per ton. Moreover, more than 108,000 tons produced outside the plan will receive 500,000 dinars per ton.
The new private-sector initiative could play an important role in supporting the Kurdistan wheat harvest. By expanding export opportunities, authorities hope farmers will secure better market access and reduce the impact of lower government procurement.
