Iraq’s federal government is preparing to adjust its national wheat procurement strategy after an unexpectedly strong harvest in the Kurdistan Region exposed major gaps in existing quotas.

Trade Minister Mustafa Nizar al-Ani said during a visit to Erbil that Baghdad is working to ensure all locally produced wheat can be purchased, signaling a possible expansion of the current procurement plan. He also suggested that surplus grain beyond domestic needs could be considered for export in the future.

However, the Kurdistan Region’s output has far exceeded federal expectations. Current quotas limit procurement from the region to 400,000 tons out of a national target of 4.5 million tons, with Kurdish officials warning that this covers only a fraction of actual production.

Deputy Trade Minister Sarwar Hawari said payment delays and reduced purchase prices—now 700,000 IQD per ton—are adding pressure on farmers, with nearly half of allocated funds still unpaid.