- BAGHDAD: Iraq has produced 1.73 million tons of local wheat from the 2010/11 crop and 153,000 tons of barley, after both harvests were hit by drought, the Grain Board spokesman said.
Iraq harvested 1.866 million tons of wheat and 450,000 tons of barley in the 2009/10 season due to good rains.
Iraq is one of the world’s largest importers of wheat and rice, much of which goes to supply a massive public food ration program.
The government pays local farmers some of the highest prices in the region for wheat, to encourage them to plant more and increase domestic production.
Iraq bought wheat for this season at $615 per ton.
