The Ministry of Agriculture in the Kurdistan Region predicts that farmers will harvest nearly one million tons of wheat this year. Heavy rainfall and favorable weather during the growing season have boosted crop growth. Officials say this strong harvest will strengthen food security and benefit local farmers financially.
Farmers planted wheat on more than 3.2 million dunams this year. About 85% of the land relies on rain-fed cultivation. Experts expect the harvest to finish by April, producing high-quality wheat. If conditions remain favorable, the yield will mark a major achievement for the region’s agriculture sector.
Dr. Zida Mohammed, General Director of Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, said, “We had planned to visit Baghdad on March 1, 2026, to set the official wheat procurement quantities. The Iran-related conflict canceled our trip. We are now coordinating with Baghdad to finalize agreements and continue discussions as soon as possible.”
This year’s rainfall has increased the expected harvest, giving farmers confidence that they can sell their wheat through multiple markets and distribution channels.
The Iraqi Ministry of Trade controls wheat purchases at the federal level. It buys wheat from central and southern provinces but allocates only limited quantities to the Kurdistan Region. Officials have not yet finalized these allocations.
Last year, farmers delivered 390,000 tons of wheat to local silos. They received only 96 billion Iraqi dinars for their produce, while the federal government withheld more than 190 billion dinars. Farmers still await full payment, which remains a major challenge for the region.
If favorable weather continues and authorities support farmers, this year’s wheat harvest of nearly one million tons could become one of the largest and highest-quality yields in recent years. The ministry and farmers are actively preparing to manage, market, and distribute the crop efficiently across the region.
