Iraq buys 3.1 million tonnes of domestic wheat since the beginning of the 2017 season

Iraq has bought 3.1 million tonnes of domestic wheat since the start of the 2017 season, expected to end in mid-August, an agriculture ministry official said on Wednesday.
Hamid al-Nayif, spokesman for the ministry, said his country is expected to achieve its production target of 3.65 million tonnes of wheat this year.
He added that some areas have not marketed their wheat so far, such as Kirkuk and Zamar and Rabia in Mosul and Kurdish areas such as Erbil.
“We are optimistic that we will reach our target of 3.65 million tonnes.”
Iraq needs wheat supplies of between 4.5 million and 5 million tonnes a year, meaning a gap to be filled by importing about 1 million tons for 2017.
The Iraqi Ministry of Trade is responsible for purchasing strategic commodities, including wheat, for the food support program.
The program was established in 1991 to counter UN economic sanctions, including flour, cooking oil, rice, sugar and infant formula.
The poor in Iraq continue to rely on this system, which is now suffering from corruption and waste.
The ministry faces difficulties in importing grain for its food support program this year after the introduction of new conditions of payment and quality that have caused traders to refrain from participating in its global bidding.
The Iraqi parliament is due to question Commerce Minister Salman Jumaili on August 3 on allegations of corruption within the Ministry of Commerce, including deals to import contaminated rice.


https://en.economiciraq.com/2017/07/1...e-2017-season/