Payments for wheat purchased from farmers in the Kurdistan Region have been delayed until next week due to unfinished financial procedures.
The delay means farmers will not receive their payments this week. Officials expect the distribution process to begin at the start of next week once the remaining procedures finish.
Many Kurdistan Region farmers have waited more than a year to receive payments for last year’s wheat harvest.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Iraqi government transferred the seventh installment of the outstanding payments. The installment totaled 58.633 billion Iraqi dinars.
However, the money has not yet reached the relevant bank. Therefore, authorities cannot begin distributing the funds to farmers this week.
Nawzad Sheikh Kamil, director general of commerce at the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Trade and Industry, confirmed the delay. He said the latest payment still needs to go through the required banking procedures.
According to Kamil, the government expects to begin distributing the money at the beginning of next week.
The latest installment represents another step toward clearing the wheat payments owed to Kurdistan farmers.
However, a significant amount remains outstanding. The total financial entitlement owed to farmers for last year’s agricultural production exceeds 301 billion dinars.
Of that amount, around 83.12 billion dinars remains with the Iraqi government and still needs to reach the Kurdistan Region.
Farmers have repeatedly called for faster payment of their wheat dues. The delays have placed additional financial pressure on producers who have already completed the harvest and delivered their crops.
Meanwhile, officials say the remaining funds will reach farmers after the necessary financial and banking procedures conclude.
The expected distribution next week could provide further financial relief for farmers. It would also allow the Kurdistan Region to continue settling the outstanding payments for the previous wheat season.
Authorities have yet to announce a specific day for the distribution. However, the latest statement indicates that the process should begin early next week.
