Iraqi trade ministry approves $105 million for Kurdistan farmers’ wheat payments

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Ministry of Trade has approved 158 billion dinars (approximately $105 million) to pay farmers in the Kurdistan Region for wheat, with funds expected to arrive within two weeks, according to a farmers’ representative.

This year, the federal government purchased 700,000 tons of wheat from farmers in the Kurdistan Region. As per an agreement between the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Iraq’s Ministry of Trade, the allocation includes 228,000 tons for Erbil, 282,000 tons for Sulaymaniyah, and 189,000 tons for Duhok.

Imran Asaad, a farmers’ representative from Bardarash district, confirmed the decision. “Today, the Ministry of Trade agreed to release another portion of the wheat payments allocated to Kurdish farmers,” Asaad told 964media.

He explained that the payment is part of a broader allocation of 400 billion dinars (around $266 million), with 158 billion dinars allocated to the Kurdistan Region’s farmers. The remaining funds are designated for farmers in Kirkuk and Mosul. However, an outstanding balance of 105 billion dinars (approximately $70 million) is still due to Kurdish farmers.

The Ministry of Trade noted that the transfer process for the approved funds will take about two weeks to reach the Kurdistan Region.

Iraq’s wheat procurement program, managed by the Ministry of Trade, is a form of subsidy that sets quotas and prices to procure wheat from Iraqi farmers at above market rate.