Warnings of a Food Crisis in Iraq Amid Regional Tensions and Calls for an Urgent National Strategy

With ongoing regional tensions and concerns regarding the impact on international shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, the issue of food security in Iraq has moved to the forefront of economic discussions. Local markets have recently recorded waves of price increases accompanied by monopolistic practices, sparking fears of potential supply crises, given the country's reliance on imports to secure over 90% of its basic needs. In this regard, politicians and economic experts emphasized the immediate necessity of adopting a comprehensive and long-term national strategy for food security. Specialists called for supporting and stimulating the industrial and agricultural sectors to reduce excessive reliance on imports, rehabilitating national factories to meet local market demands, and creating an integrated economic cycle capable of withstanding international fluctuations and providing sustainable employment opportunities.