Last day for wheat handover: 16,000 tons still unsubmitted

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Today marks the final day for farmers to hand over their wheat to the silos, with 16,000 tons yet to be submitted.

Miran Bakhtiyar, director of the Erbil silo, urged farmers to deliver their wheat promptly.

"So far, we have received about 222,000 tons of wheat from farmers," Bakhtiyar told Kurdistan 24 on Saturday.

"We are waiting to receive the remaining wheat today because today is the last day to receive wheat. Therefore, we ask the farmers to come and hand over their wheat as soon as possible. We do not want anyone to be deprived of this handover," he said.

Bakhtiyar emphasized the silo's extended working hours: "We worked until 1 AM every day to receive the wheat from the farmers. We only had two days off for Eid."

"We have samples. We call the farmers to come and hand over their wheat. We don't know why they haven't come. Their presence in the silo is low today. The sooner they arrive here and hand over their wheat, the better we can manage it. We are yet to know the reason for their absence today," he explained.

Bakhtiyar also mentioned the financial transactions involved: "So far, we have distributed 17 billion Iraqi dinars and another three billion is on the way. As each round of handover is completed, we receive an amount to pay the farmers."

Nazim Mohammed, director of the Duhok silo, reported that 181,000 tons of wheat have been received from farmers and stored in the three silos of Duhok, Sheikhan, and Zakho.

"The only problem is the Sheikhan silo because if the amount of wheat identified in advance had been received from the farmers, the process would have been completed five days prior to the deadline," he noted.

Mohammed highlighted the firm deadline: "There is no decision to extend the deadline for receiving wheat, because the position of the Federal Court of Iraq is very tough against the Kurdistan Region, especially this year, so today is the last day to receive wheat."

In Sulaimani, Nasrin Ahmad, director of the silos, confirmed that today is the final day for wheat submission. "We will continue our work until 5:00 PM in the silo. As long as there is a truckload of wheat left, we will continue our work, but as can be seen, there is little wheat left to be received," she stated.

Ahmad reported the quantities received: "273,000 tons of wheat have been received from all silos in Sulaimani; our silo alone has received 265,000 tons. We have received 28 billion dinars so far as compensation payments for the farmers and their wheat, and the amount will be distributed directly. The remaining amount will be received in the near future and will be distributed accordingly."

She also explained the next steps for the wheat: "The wheat left in the silo is taken by the mills, turned into flour, and then sent as part of the monthly food rations for the citizens."