Iraq targets 4M tonnes of wheat in 2026/27 winter agricultural plan
The strategic decision aims to maximize national staple grain yields, particularly wheat and barley, while streamlining input supply chains for farmers across the country.
IRAQ – Iraq’s Cabinet has approved the winter agricultural plan for the 2026/27 season, introducing measures to support wheat production, reduce farmers’ input costs and strengthen domestic grain procurement.
The plan includes a wheat purchasing target of up to 4 million tonnes, subsidized seeds and pesticides, and changes to fertilizer import duties intended to support agricultural production.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Trade is authorized to purchase up to 4 million tonnes of wheat from governorates across Iraq, excluding the Kurdistan Region.
Procurement prices will follow Cabinet Resolution No. 247 of 2026, with payments determined by the size of the cultivated area and the approved irrigation system.
Wheat produced within the agricultural plan on farms covering up to 1,000 dunums will be purchased at IQD700,000 (US$534) per tonne.
For production from areas exceeding 1,000 dunums, the approved price is IQD500,000 (US$382) per tonne.
Eligible irrigation methods include rain-fed cultivation, traditional and modern surface irrigation, and modern well-based irrigation systems.
The measures are designed to encourage wheat production under the national agricultural programme while providing a framework for government procurement.
The 4-million-tonne purchasing ceiling also establishes the scale of the government’s planned involvement in the domestic wheat market for the coming season.
The Cabinet has also approved accepting fodder barley produced under the winter plan without subsidies.
The Mesopotamia General Company for Seeds, operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Iraqi Company for Seed Production, a mixed-sector enterprise, will handle the barley and may export it outside Iraq under mechanisms determined by the companies.
To reduce the cost of establishing wheat crops, the government will subsidize wheat seed sales by 70% for farmers and agricultural producers.
Pesticides used for wheat cultivated within the approved agricultural plan will receive a 100% subsidy, providing additional support for crop protection and production.
The fertilizer measures include suspending the additional 35% customs duty on imported urea from all sources until February 28, 2027.
The Cabinet introduced the duty under Cabinet Resolution No. 573 of 2020. The suspension is expected to ease import-related costs for a key nitrogen fertilizer used in cereal production.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture has been authorized to purchase diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer directly from manufacturers, bypassing intermediaries. The measure could help streamline procurement and improve access to fertilizer supplies.
The winter plan combines procurement incentives with input subsidies and fertilizer-market adjustments.
Its implementation will be key to how effectively Iraq supports farmers, sustains domestic wheat production, and manages grain supplies during the 2026/27 agricultural season.
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