Iraq’s parliament approved several farmers’ demands. It also instructed the federal government to implement them, including wheat procurement from the Kurdistan Region. In addition, the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture pledged to purchase about 400,000 tons of wheat this year, matching last year’s level.
However, Kurdistan Region officials argue that this amount remains too low for actual production needs. The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Trade Ministry reports that the earlier quota of 290,000 tons has not received final approval from the Higher Committee known as “Committee 39.”
Furthermore, officials reject the proposed 400,000-ton figure. They say it does not reflect real output and fails to support farmers. Therefore, they continue to demand a higher procurement level to protect the agricultural sector.
Jamal Kocher, a member of Iraq’s Council of Representatives, said the Agriculture Ministry agreed after pressure from Kurdish lawmakers to increase procurement above 400,000 tons. He also noted that authorities planned to cancel the 290,000-ton limit, but no official document has been issued yet. As a result, discussions between Baghdad and Erbil remain open and unfinished.
Nawzad Sheikh Kamil, Director General of Trade in the Kurdistan Region, expects wheat production to reach 1.5 million tons this year. He warned that purchasing only 400,000 tons would leave most farmers without state support.
He also confirmed that the region has formally asked Baghdad to purchase at least 1 million tons of wheat to match production levels. Committee 39 includes representatives from the agriculture, planning, and trade ministries. It must approve any final procurement decision.
Although both sides have held several meetings, they have not reached an agreement on wheat procurement yet. In the coming days, an Iraqi Agriculture Ministry delegation will visit the Kurdistan Region. The team will inspect farmland and assess production before finalizing a purchase quota.
