Iraq awaits funds to pay 1.545 trillion dinars to wheat farmers

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq’s state-run Grain Trading Company said it is waiting for the Finance Ministry to transfer funds to pay 1.545 trillion dinars owed to farmers who delivered last year’s wheat. Company director Haidar Nuri Al-Kerawi made the remarks after a meeting in Baghdad with the agricultural products marketing committee. Al-Kerawi said the payment process was raised after an instruction from the prime minister. Officials from the Agriculture and Trade ministries discussed technical and administrative issues aimed at easing wheat delivery procedures and speeding up operations at marketing points this season. The meeting also called for tighter inspections at external checkpoints to prevent the unauthorized transport of locally produced wheat between cities. The company said it is continuing field monitoring to ensure laboratory checks on delivered grain and storage in line with the specified standards.