The 2014 wheat harvest was completed in July although final production estimates are not yet available. However, preliminary forecast puts the 2014 wheat production at 13 million tonnes, seven per cent lower than the 2013 wheat harvest due mainly to drought conditions that affected yields.

Since the beginning of the fiscal year in March 2014, the Government purchased 6.5 million tonnes of wheat domestically at the cost of about 69 trillion rials (USD 2.58 billion on the official rate of 26 543 rials per dollar).

Compared to the same period last year, the Government purchases increased by about 2.4 million tonnes. The Government plans to decrease reliance on imported wheat over the next four years.

Wheat and barley are the main crops cultivated in the country. Wheat is the dominant cereal crop accounting for almost 70 per cent of the aggregate cereal production.

Irrigated wheat covers only one third of the total wheat area, thus the bulk of the wheat crop depends on the performance of seasonal precipitation.

Most of the rainfed wheat crop is concentrated in the north-western region of the country. Small amounts of rice and maize are also produced in the country.

Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/