Iran increases state wheat purchases to more than 5.5 mln tons

Since the start of the new marketing year on March 21, 2026, Iran has purchased more than 5.5 mln tons of wheat from farmers under its guaranteed procurement program. This is 1% more than during the same period last year, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Akbar Fathi.

He said procurement volumes are expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks as harvesting gains momentum in the country’s northern and mountainous regions. Iran is forecast to harvest about 13.5 mln tons of wheat in the 2026/27 season, with the government planning to purchase 9–10 mln tons from domestic farmers.

Farmers have already received 630 trillion rials (about $463 mln) for delivered wheat, while the total amount due stands at around 2.73 quadrillion rials (nearly $2 bln). The government attributed the payment delays to temporary liquidity constraints, although funding for the procurement program has already been allocated in the state budget.

Following instructions from President Masoud Pezeshkian, government agencies are accelerating the financing process. The Ministry of Agriculture has also prepared a credit support program to provide wheat growers with working capital ahead of the next planting season.

Iran harvested 11.7 mln tons of wheat in the previous marketing year, with 7.8 mln tons purchased under the guaranteed procurement scheme. Rising production and higher state purchases indicate continued growth in domestic wheat output and support the country’s efforts to strengthen food security through local grain production.

Tags: wheat, Iran