Low rainfall stunts Duhok wheat yields, officials warn

DUHOK — Low rainfall has stunted this year’s wheat crop in Duhok Governorate, with 40% of rain-fed wheat failing to sprout, according to agricultural officials.

“The low rainfall has significantly affected wheat production in Duhok, and 40% of the rain-fed wheat has not sprouted,” said Ahmed Jamil, director general of agriculture in Duhok, speaking to 964media.

Jamil noted that officials remain cautiously optimistic about the weeks ahead. “If we receive rainfall this week, the percentage of unsprouted wheat may decrease,” he said. He added that 445,000 dunams (109,920 acres) of wheat were planted this year, including 253,000 dunams (62,530 acres) that rely on irrigation from wells and dams.

Last year, Duhok produced almost 500,000 tons of wheat, but authorities now expect a significant drop. Data obtained by 964media from the Directorate of Agriculture show 624.4 millimeters of rainfall in Duhok last year, compared to just 142 millimeters this year—a sharp decline that has severely impacted local agriculture.

In 2022, the Kurdistan Region met its required rainfall for grain production, bringing total wheat output above one million tons. Based on that figure, the Iraqi government decided to purchase 700,000 tons of wheat from farmers in the Kurdistan Region.