Iraq purchases over 3.19 million tonnes of domestic wheat this season

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Trade said on Saturday that more than 3.19 million tonnes of wheat have been procured from local farmers this season. Haydar al-Karawi, director of the state-run General Company for Grain Trade, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that buying had been completed across nine southern provinces and Baghdad, with Diyala and Saladin expected to finish in the coming days. According to ministry data, Iraq's annual wheat requirement stands at roughly 4.2 million tonnes, meaning the volume purchased so far covers the bulk of domestic needs. To support local production and food security, the government pays farmers subsidized prices above market rates. Al-Karawi said in February that this season's output would help build strategic reserves through 2027. Separately, the Ministry of Agriculture announced in July 2025 that Iraq had achieved self-sufficiency in wheat for a third consecutive year.