Iraq to produce 7 million tons of wheat this season
A wheat field. Photo: AFP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Al-Maliki, said on Wednesday that Iraq is expected to produce seven million tons of wheat during the current season.
Al-Maliki’s remarks took place during his meeting with the British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Iraq and President of the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC), as well as a group of researchers, academics, and specialists in the field of agriculture in the British capital, London, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Iraqi Agriculture Minister talked about Iraq’s transition to smart agriculture and reaching self-sufficiency in basic crops, including vegetables and wheat.
Al-Maliki stated that although Iraq needs less than five million tons of wheat annually, the efforts made have helped the country’s wheat output this season, which is up to seven million tons compared to 5.2 million tons produced last year.
The Iraqi Agriculture Minister stated that Iraq aims to establish programs of cooperation and partnership with British laboratories specializing in the field of tissue culture of date palm.
The attendees expressed their intention to help the Iraqi government accomplish its goals for smart agriculture and to support the infrastructure needed for agricultural growth in Iraq.