BAGHDAD - Iraq's trade ministry said on Wednesday it had advised cabinet that it needs to import one million tonnes of wheat and 250,000 tonnes of rice for its food rationing programme and to boost strategic stocks in the coming months.
"The crisis committee in the ministry advised the cabinet to secure the needs of the food rationing programme and build strategic stocks," Mohamed Hanoon, trade ministry spokesman told Reuters.
The trade ministry had said on Saturday it was in need of more money from the budget to build three months' supply in its strategic wheat and rice stockpiles in the face of the country's growing coronavirus problem.
(Reporting by Moayed Kenany, Writing by Maha El Dahan, editing by Louise Heavens) ((Maha.Dahan@thomsonreuters.com; + 9712 4082101; Reuters Messaging: maha.dahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
