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Iraq grapples with rising food costs as a result of Ukraine war
Ripple effects from the Russian invasion of Ukraine are driving the Iraqi government to allot additional funds to ensure the food supply is stable.
Muslims gather for the fast breaking iftar meal, offered by the Christian community of Mosul, in the Iraqi northern city, on April 9, 2022, during the holy month of Ramadan. - ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images
Ayser Jabbar
April 27, 2022
BAGHDAD — The global economic crisis due to the Russian-Ukrainian war has led to price hikes in Iraq. This has prompted the Iraqi government to amend several decisions related to the import of goods, especially foodstuffs, instructing the internal security forces to monitor markets and prices.
The prices of some foodstuffs, especially wheat-derived goods, such as pastries, in addition to cooking oil, has increased by 20%.
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Mahdi Damad al-Qaisi, advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, told Al-Monitor that Iraq has the financial capabilities to overcome this global crisis.
Iraq imports its most important food crop, wheat, from the US and Australia.
"However, other countries that rely on Russia and Ukraine may now resort to the countries Iraq imports from," he said.
"The concerned authorities must take precautions, including us in the Ministry of Agriculture, because our agriculture is limited, especially in terms of wheat.”
He added, “Besides wheat, we face an issue with animal feed, such as corn, most of which is imported, in addition to animal fertilizers.”
Qaisi stressed that the private sector has a major role in staving off all these concerns if it is given an adequate opportunity and support by the Iraqi government, although the National Product Protection Law has not been not implemented.
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He added that high oil prices now enable Iraq to afford wheat even with high prices, if decision-makers move quickly.
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Iraq grapples with rising food costs as a result of Ukraine war
Ripple effects from the Russian invasion of Ukraine are driving the Iraqi government to allot additional funds to ensure the food supply is stable.
Muslims gather for the fast breaking iftar meal, offered by the Christian community of Mosul, in the Iraqi northern city, on April 9, 2022, during the holy month of Ramadan. - ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images
Ayser Jabbar
April 27, 2022
BAGHDAD — The global economic crisis due to the Russian-Ukrainian war has led to price hikes in Iraq. This has prompted the Iraqi government to amend several decisions related to the import of goods, especially foodstuffs, instructing the internal security forces to monitor markets and prices.
The prices of some foodstuffs, especially wheat-derived goods, such as pastries, in addition to cooking oil, has increased by 20%.
...
Mahdi Damad al-Qaisi, advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, told Al-Monitor that Iraq has the financial capabilities to overcome this global crisis.
Iraq imports its most important food crop, wheat, from the US and Australia.
"However, other countries that rely on Russia and Ukraine may now resort to the countries Iraq imports from," he said.
"The concerned authorities must take precautions, including us in the Ministry of Agriculture, because our agriculture is limited, especially in terms of wheat.”
He added, “Besides wheat, we face an issue with animal feed, such as corn, most of which is imported, in addition to animal fertilizers.”
Qaisi stressed that the private sector has a major role in staving off all these concerns if it is given an adequate opportunity and support by the Iraqi government, although the National Product Protection Law has not been not implemented.
...
He added that high oil prices now enable Iraq to afford wheat even with high prices, if decision-makers move quickly.
...
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