Grain silo officials arrested over illegal farmer fees in Maysan

MAYSAN — Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity said Friday it arrested the head and two members of a direct implementation committee at the Amarah Grain Silo in Maysan governorate over allegations they imposed unauthorized fees on wheat farmers delivering grain to the facility.

In a statement, the commission said investigators from its Maysan office detained three employees of the State Company for Grain Trading after gathering evidence that they had intentionally harmed the financial interests of the government entity where they worked.

According to the commission, the suspects served as the head and members of the committee responsible for loading, unloading and cleaning operations at the Amarah Grain Silo. It alleged they required farmers to pay money for every truck delivering locally produced wheat to the silo.

The commission said the employees compelled farmers to pay the fees despite the state already covering the costs of unloading, equipment and labor through allocated public funds. The three suspects were referred to a Maysan court to face legal proceedings.

Iraq buys wheat from farmers at subsidized prices above market rates to support domestic production and food security. This season’s price is 700,000 dinars (about $535) per ton for quantities within the approved plan and 500,000 dinars (about $382) per ton for quantities outside it. Based on the government’s target of roughly 5 million tons, the program represents purchases worth up to 3.5 trillion dinars (about $2.7 billion), making it one of Iraq’s largest agricultural support programs.

The season came after weeks of farmer unrest over reduced purchase prices and delayed payments. Farmers from several central and southern governorates staged repeated protests in Baghdad, including attempts to march on the Green Zone, after the government cut this season’s price from last year’s 850,000 dinars per ton to 700,000 dinars.

Earlier in June, the Council of Ministers approved restrictions on wheat imports until the end of the marketing season, saying the measure would protect local farmers.