Sana'a: The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture announced on Sunday that it has achieved self-sufficiency in wheat seeds, clarifying that their distribution will be exclusively through the "Ur" platform.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture's spokesperson, Qusay al-Hattab, stated, "We have achieved self-sufficiency in strategic wheat crop seeds, which vary in type and quality, and the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for their propagation through a program based on contracted, accredited farmers."
He further elaborated, "The Ministry maintains a regular database of high-quality varieties of strategic crops, including wheat, barley, corn, rice, soybeans, and fodder seeds," explaining that "all of these operate within approved national programs distributed among the relevant departments."
Al-Hattab emphasized the implementation of strict government procedures during seed distribution, noting that applications are accepted exclusively through the Ur electronic platform, and the export of seeds outside Iraq is strictly prohibited.
The seeds are distributed among farmers contracted with the ministry according to a structured plan, which includes establishing a contract with a producer and farmer identification system for large-scale landowners. Specialized committees from the ministry and its departments monitor the planting process from planting to harvest.
Regarding agricultural varieties threatened with decline or extinction, Al-Hattab explained that each variety is protected for 10 years, after which the protection is lifted, allowing them to be traded and sold normally. During this protection period, new, high-yielding varieties are developed.