MPs call on gov’t to release farmers’ paychecks

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Lawmakers on Monday called on the government to accelerate the process of releasing farmers’ paychecks, after they handed over their production of wheat and barley to the state’s silos around a month ago. “Farmers are in debt,” Lawmaker Jamal al-Bateekh said in a press conference in Baghdad attended by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The Trade Ministry has yet to give farmers their paychecks,” he said. “Members of the parliament’s farming committee met with Premier Nouri al-Maliki one week ago, and they informed him of this issue, but he has done nothing so far,” he added. Two other lawmakers spoke during the conference. MH (P)/SR 1