The Director General of Commerce at the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Shukri, has confirmed ongoing discussions with the Iraqi Ministry of Commerce to secure an increased wheat allocation for the Kurdistan Region. These negotiations come as the region faces delays in wheat deliveries, with shipments typically arriving later than in central and southern Iraq.
Shukri noted that while wheat is expected to arrive in lower and central Iraq by April, allowing for timely preparation, shipments to Kurdistan are often delayed, pushing the actual delivery into June. To address this, the KRG and the Ministry of Agriculture are collaborating with the Iraqi Ministry of Commerce to finalize the amount of wheat to be allocated to the region and to streamline the delivery process.
In 2024, the Kurdistan Region received 700,000 tons of wheat, but this year, the allocation has been reduced to 400,000 tons. However, KRG officials are pushing to increase this amount in light of better-than-expected wheat yields in some areas. Despite concerns about this year’s lower rainfall, which has impacted yields in certain parts of the region, many areas with irrigation have experienced high-quality harvests.
A dedicated committee has been formed to investigate the wheat-growing areas within Kurdistan, and KRG officials are seeking to discuss the findings with Baghdad in order to secure a higher allocation. If the lower wheat allocation remains in place, it could negatively affect both local farmers and the overall marketing system for wheat in the region.
With the wheat distribution plan set for delivery in June, the KRG is striving to ensure that sufficient quantities are made available to meet the region’s needs and support local agricultural production.