Minister of Commerce directs taking measures to protect food security

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[size=52]Minister of Commerce directs taking measures to protect food security[/size]

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10/12/2024
Purchase of 13,000 pivotal sprayers to combat agricultural pests
Baghdad - Amer Abdul Aziz
The Minister of Trade, Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri, directed to take the necessary measures to maintain the safety of food stocks. A statement yesterday stated that (Al-Ghariri visited the General Company for Foodstuffs Trading, to review the food stocks, and follow up on the emergency plan to secure sufficient storage capacities to accommodate the new quantities of food basket items), instructing the company's management (to develop productivity in line with the government program that aims to achieve results that serve the citizen, and follow up on the cutting and preparation operations for the seventh batch of the food basket).
Basket materials
Al-Ghariri added that "the ministry has a good stock of basket materials, and is working to provide new quantities in anticipation of the emergency conditions that the region is going through," stressing "the need to adhere to implementing the necessary procedures to preserve the safety of the stock, which represents the citizens' livelihood," according to his expression. The ministry confirmed that flour prices are stable, noting that there are more than 5 million and 500 thousand tons of wheat crop in all warehouses. The Director General of the General Company for Grain Trade, Haider Nouri, affiliated with the Ministry, said in a statement yesterday that (the comprehensive strategic storage of the wheat crop has reached more than 5 million and 500 thousand tons), indicating (the entry into the marketing season during the fourth month of next year, with the provision of a storage of more than two million tons, and these are very large quantities that suit the consumer's needs), according to what he mentioned, and Nouri added that (the strategic storage of the crop will not be affected by any global crisis), stressing that (the quantities of wheat in the warehouses of Baghdad and the governorates are sufficient for a whole year), and he explained that (all governorates have reached the stage of self-sufficiency in the crop, in addition to the presence of mills in each governorate), noting (the readiness to confront any global emergency in the event that wheat prices rise, and to maintain the stability of flour prices). The Minister of Trade confirmed that achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production, by reaching 6 million and 200 thousand tons, is sufficient for a year. Al-Ghariri explained that (in light of the challenges facing the grain sector and bread industry in the region, there is an urgent need to adopt modern technologies that ensure the sustainability and quality of production), and Al-Ghariri continued that (Iraq has reached self-sufficiency in wheat production, by reaching huge productivity), as he described it, noting that (the ministry continues to play its vital role in securing the citizen's food needs, by strengthening the ration card, which provides basic commodities). The ministry launched a new batch of the food basket. A statement received by Al-Zaman yesterday stated that (the branches and sites of the General Company for Foodstuff Trading, affiliated with the Ministry, have started, since last Tuesday, to cut the agents’ preparation lists for the seventh batch of food basket items, according to the agents’ review schedules, and according to the timings set by the company’s marketing plan), indicating that (the company’s marketing department directed the cutting and preparation centers at the sites to organize the review process and simplify the procedures, with follow-up by the monitoring, auditing and quality control teams), and the ministry stressed (the necessity of giving priority to the review schedules to the poorest areas), pointing out (collecting the fees for the cutting lists via electronic payment cards, according to the electronic payment system approved by the company, in line with the decisions of the Council of Ministers and the directives of the Minister of Trade). The ministry set a date for the mills to start producing zero flour, after contracting with a grain manufacturing company to produce it. Nouri said yesterday that (the mills have started contracting with a grain manufacturing company to supply them with local wheat), indicating that (the plans include importing Russian wheat, with the aim of mixing it with local wheat, to improve its quality and produce zero flour), and Nouri noted (the imminent arrival of a Russian ship carrying 40 thousand tons of wheat).[/size]
[size=45]wheat mixing[/size]
[size=45]He added that (the process of mixing local and Russian wheat to produce zero flour will begin next week). In a related context, the Ministry of Agriculture has contracted to purchase more than 13,000 pivot sprinklers to be distributed successively among farmers and growers in all governorates. A statement by the ministry received by (Al-Zaman) yesterday confirmed (the expansion of areas allocated for palm cultivation recently and the cultivation of large numbers of palm trees in Al-Zubair and Safwan in Basra), and the Director of Basra Agriculture explained that (there are more than 364,000 palm trees in desert areas), pointing to (an increase in the number of palm trees using the conservative tissue culture system to produce high-quality local varieties), and he stated that (coordination has been made with the Department of Plant Protection to implement insect control campaigns and protect palm trees from their danger).[/size]
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