Iraq Begins Grain Exports and Achieves Full Food Self-Sufficiency
Iraq has fully ensured its self-sufficiency in staple food crops for the first time in its history and has entered the external market with agricultural products. This was announced by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Jabir, who emphasized that significant investments in irrigation systems and the introduction of drought-resistant plant varieties played a key role in this breakthrough.
This is reported by AgroReview
Desert Cultivation and Record Harvests
According to the minister, Iraq has achieved significant success through the implementation of projects aimed at cultivating desert lands. Modern irrigation technologies, including circular sprinkler systems and drip irrigation, have been actively used in the agricultural sector. This has allowed for new records in wheat cultivation: in 2023, the harvest was 5.3 million tons, in 2024 it exceeded 6 million tons, and in 2025 it was more than 5 million tons.
Over the past ten years, the area of cultivated land has increased by more than 1 million hectares due to the introduction of desert territories into use. The state financed nearly a third of the cost of equipment for farmers, providing 13,000 sprinkler systems at special prices. This has significantly expanded the areas under grain crops.
Exports and New Horizons for the Agricultural Sector
Currently, Iraq independently meets domestic demand for 13 types of agricultural products, including vegetables and fruits. Starting in 2024, the country began exporting seven major crops — including dates, potatoes, and fodder crops — to Gulf countries and Europe. The total export volume last year reached nearly 2 million tons.
“We have achieved self-sufficiency in poultry and dairy products, and we have also launched a large-scale project for raising cattle in partnership with Sahara Karbala. These achievements have become a true turning point for the country’s agricultural sector, which now has a strategic task – to ensure food security in the face of climate challenges and water scarcity.”
Iraq is actively investing in the development of livestock farming: the state has not only ensured the domestic market with poultry and dairy products but has also initiated a joint initiative for large-scale livestock farming with Sahara Karbala. Thus, the country is strengthening its food security and increasing its export potential even amid limited water resources and global climate change.