BAGHDAD- Iraq’s state-grain buyer said on Monday it aims to import wheat at the start of next year to compensate for a lower yield in the country’s local harvest this season because of less rainfall.

Iraq procured 3.365 million tonnes of wheat from farmers this year, down sharply from 5.024 million tonnes a year prior.

(Reporting by Moayad Kenany, writing by Nadine Awadalla, Editing by Louise Heavens) ((maher.chmaytelli@thomsonreuters.com;))