The Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources expects wheat production this season to exceed two million tons. At the same time, it has rejected the quota set by the Federal Government of Iraq, calling it too low and unfair.
Advisor Rzgar Mohammed addressed a press conference and shared updated figures. He said heavy rainfall throughout the season has significantly improved farming conditions. As a result, farmers across the Kurdistan Region have achieved strong growth in wheat production. He confirmed that total output will likely surpass two million tons if current conditions continue.
Farmers planted more than 3.3 million acres of land with wheat this year. This marks a major agricultural effort across the region. In response, the government has taken steps to manage the expected harvest efficiently. Authorities have prepared storage centers and silos to receive large quantities of wheat. These facilities can store over one million tons, which helps reduce waste and supports market stability.
Meanwhile, Baghdad has approved a national plan to purchase 3.8 million tons of wheat from across Iraq. It fixed the price at 700,000 Iraqi dinars per ton. However, it assigned only 292,000 tons to the Kurdistan Region. Officials in Erbil strongly oppose this allocation.
Rzgar Mohammed criticized the decision and described it as unrealistic. He argued that the quota does not reflect scientific standards or actual production levels. Additionally, he stressed that it ignores population size and the region’s contribution to the national budget. He insisted that the allocation should be at least 400,000 tons.
Because of this dispute, the ministry has refused to sign the agreement. It has formally requested a review of the quota from both governments.
The ministry also emphasized that the Kurdistan Region serves as a key “food basket” for the area. It plans to support local flour factories and expand wheat exports in cooperation with the private sector.
