Mahdi Sahar Al-Jubouri, Undersecretary of Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture, announced on Tuesday that the country expects wheat production to reach five million tons during the 2025–2026 season, reinforcing Iraq’s progress toward agricultural self-sufficiency.

Al-Jubouri stated that approximately two million hectares of farmland were cultivated this season, adding that the projected harvest would enable Iraq to meet domestic demand without imports for the fourth consecutive year.

A large share of the crop depended on rainfall and groundwater rather than river irrigation, reflecting favorable weather conditions despite ongoing water scarcity. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources reported that Iraq’s strategic water reserves increased by nearly six billion cubic meters this year, easing pressure on summer water management.

Iraq has intensified efforts in recent years to expand domestic wheat production, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen food security after prolonged drought and declining river flows.

Despite the optimistic production outlook, the government reduced the wheat procurement price paid to farmers from 850,000 to 700,000 Iraqi dinars per ton. Officials attributed the decision to economic pressures, including declining oil revenues and regional instability linked to tensions involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The price reduction has sparked criticism among farmers, who argue that the new rate does not cover rising costs for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Kadem Obaid, a farmer near Najaf al-Ashraf, described the prices as “unfair and unrealistic,” questioning how production costs were calculated.

Government officials, however, maintain that the current procurement price remains above global market rates and continues to support local wheat production in Iraq’s challenging climate.