DUBAI, UAE — Iraq intends to plant 750,000 hectares of wheat in 2022-23, an increase from the previous season, Reuters reported, citing an agriculture ministry official.

The planting season is expected to start in mid-October to November.

In the 2021-22 season, the nation harvested 625,000 hectares.

The ministry is putting together an agriculture plan with the ministry of water resources, and expects more dependence on underground water, said Hameed al-Naif, ministry spokesperson.