Page 28 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Iraq

GRAIN AND FEED ANNUAL IRAQ GRAIN PRODUCTION FACES

DIFFICULT WEATHER AND COVID-19 IMPACT IN 2020

Iraqi grain production may not Production: 6.6 MMT and MY 2018/19 production to
rebound in a similar pattern in MY 3.5 MMT based on official data.
2020/21 as it did in MY 2019/20 due Iraqi farmers plant wheat in November
to a shortage of rainfall coupled with in both irrigated and rainfed zones. In the Seasonal rainfall in Iraq normally
the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak irrigated zones, the harvest generally begins in October and lasts until May
on Iraq’s oil-dependent economy and begins in May and runs until June while the following year. According to data
movement restrictions that limit the in the rainfed areas, it begins in June and from international and local weather
ability of farmers to cultivate their grain. runs through to July. Occasionally, some sources, rainfall in MY 2020/21 is less
Post expects less than average yields farmers in irrigated zones may delay than the previous season, particularly
per unit area of wheat and barley due to harvesting until June as well. Normally, between February and April 2020. In
late and insufficient rainfall in growing there is no double-cropping on the addition, the movement restrictions as
areas. However, an increase in planned same land where wheat is cultivated, a result of the unexpected spread of
planted areas for wheat and barley may especially in the rainfed areas because COVID-19 will impact farmers’ ability to
compensate for yield declines. Rice the land becomes very dry after the harvest all the planted areas as well as
production is forecast to decline due to harvest. mitigate against the annual infestation of
the limited availability of water. Grain the sunn pest (eurygaster integriceps)
food and feed consumption are forecast Post estimates wheat production in the through the aerial spraying of fields.
to rise on population growth and growing market year (MY) 2020/21 to be 6 million As a result, Post anticipates lower than
demand for meat and dairy products metric tons (MMT) on expanded planned average wheat yields.
fueling the Iraqi livestock sector planted area by the government of Iraq Nevertheless, the market conditions
which will offset declining yields. Post is that influence farmer decisions to plant
also revising MY 2019/20 production to remained unchanged in MY 2020/21
as the government’s announced wheat
Wheat Production, Supply, and Demand Statistics purchase price was the same as the
previous marketing year. The Iraqi
Wheat 2018/2019 2019/2020 2020/2021 government begins its annual purchase
of locally-produced wheat in July of
Market Begin Jul 2018 Jul 2019 Jul 2020 each year. Table 2 lists the production,
Year average yield, and area for MY 2019/20.
USDA New USDA New USDA New
Iraq National Agricultural
Official Post Official Post Official Post
Area Harvested 1700 2000 2400 2350 0 3100 Plan – MY 2020/21
Beginning 1372 1372 887 887 0 1187
Stocks The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)
maintains a National Agricultural Plan
Production 3000 3500 4800 6600 0 6000
which prescribes the areas farmers may
MY Imports 3915 3915 2500 2300 0 2700 plant specific crops each year. The plan
TY Imports 3915 3915 2500 2300 0 2700 lays out the ministry’s understanding
of the best combination of production
TY Imp. from and import decisions needed to meet
U.S. 888 888 0 52 0 0
country demands. MOA gives farmers
Total Supply 8287 8787 8187 9787 0 9887 incentives to follow the plan by allowing
MY Exports 0 0 0 0 0 0 them to access subsidized inputs (i.e.
fertilizers and seeds), as well as to
TY Exports 0 0 0 0 0 0
improved marketing through the Grain
Feed and 800 1000 700 1400 0 1400 Board of Iraq. Subsidized inputs for
Residual MY 2020/21 remained the same as last
season where farmers operating within
FSI 6600 6900 6800 7200 0 7400 the plan received subsidized seeds at a
Consumption rate of 30KG per donum (approximately
120 KG/Ha).
Total 7400 7900 7500 8600 0 8800
Consumption Farmers planting in areas not included
Ending Stocks 887 887 687 1187 0 1087 in the plan must procure their own inputs
at full market value or plant grain saved
Total 8287 8787 8187 9787 0 9887 from the previous year’s harvest. These
Distribution
farmers can also only sell their wheat
Yield 1.76 1.75 2.00 2.81 0 1.94 as feed grade, regardless of quality, at
market price.
(1000 HA), (1000 MT), (MT/HA)
26 Arab Agriculture 2021

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