Wheat procurement begins in Kirkuk as Nineveh silos remain closed

KIRKUK, Iraq — The General Company for Grain Trade said the wheat marketing season has begun in Kirkuk. Company Director General Haydar al-Kerawi said meetings were held with local authorities and the relevant institutions to reduce obstacles in the procurement process. Al-Kerawi said the government-set price is 700,000 dinars per ton for output within the agricultural plan and 500,000 dinars per ton for production outside the plan. In Nineveh, First Deputy Governor Ghozwan al-Dawudi said the silos have not yet been opened to producers because of technical and administrative problems. He said the delay is due to the special code that should be sent by the Ministry of Agriculture not arriving yet. Al-Dawudi said the harvest is expected to begin in the coming days.