Iraqi wheat crop to hit 4.5 million tons this year

[k98nights]

Iraqi wheat crop to hit 4.5 million tons this year

 

By Adel Kadhem

Azzaman, April 3, 2014

 

Good weather conditions should help the country harvest up to 4.5 million tons of wheat this year, said Ali al-Marie, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture.

Marie said the volume equals Iraqi annual consumption of the crop, which is mostly turned into flour and used as bread.

Iraqi wheat harvest begins in May in the southern parts of the country and in June and July in the north.

Harvesting, collecting the crop and ferrying it to government silos continues until the end of September.

Last year saw a bumper wheat harvest with more than 3.5 million tons shipped to government silos.

Iraq imports huge quantities of wheat every year, mainly for human consumption, as a good portion of its domestic yields of the crop are of a low quality unfit for humans.

Marie based his forecast, besides good weather, on the adoption by farmers of mechanized cultivation, use of fertilizers and improved seeds.

"We charge farmers only 20 percent of the price of fertilizers and seeds we give them," Marie said.

Agriculture Ministry Undersecretary Mahdi al-Qaida said the country was on the path to self-sufficiency not only in grains but also vegetables.

He said his ministry has already banned the import of many vegetables amid a boom in local produce.

However, Iraqi yields of corn and rice were extremely low, forcing the country to meet the shortfall via imports.

Last year, Iraq only produced 350, 000 tons of corn and less than 25% of domestic needs for rice.

 

http://www.azzaman.com/english/?p=1268

[aitshioud]

Thanks for the post, this is good info. Seems like they are working on the development of the other sectors.!

[10 YEARS LATER]

They're making headway KOOL POST-THANKS

[Elixirbaby]

This is good news. They need more than just oil

[sandfly]

THANKS

[TennesseeCherokee]

Lots of loaves of bread,pasta & cereal ~