Qatari al-Obeidi, a member of the farmers’ associations in Anbar province, warned that the Ministry of Finance’s delay in releasing last year’s wheat and barley payments is creating serious problems for farmers and threatening the region’s agricultural stability.
Al-Obeidi told dinaropinions.com that even though Agriculture Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani instructed officials to pay farmers immediately after they delivered their crops, the Ministry of Finance continues to hold up the disbursement — nearly a year after marketing began.
He said that hundreds of farmers still have not received their money, leaving many unable or unwilling to plant this season. According to al-Obeidi, only about 10% of the land normally used for wheat and barley has been cultivated because growers cannot pay off accumulated debts or purchase the supplies they need.
The delays, he added, have caused a sharp drop in agricultural production in Anbar, increasing risks to local food security and placing more pressure on both farmers and the provincial government.
Al-Obeidi warned that if this situation continues, many farmers will face severe financial deterioration. He called on the Ministry of Finance to act immediately and release the overdue payments to stabilize production and help farmers fully utilize their land.
