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Agriculture & Environment
Iraq possesses an abundant supply of land and water resources, placing the agricultural sector at the forefront of the country's economy. Agriculture constitutes 29 per cent of Iraq's gross domestic product (GDP) and 20 per cent of the country's employment.
However, over the last 20 years the sector has all but collapsed, with agriculture levels declining by more than 2.6 per cent each year from 1990. Over 50 per cent of Iraq's population is affected by insecurity over food, with over half of the country's supplies imported. A large percentage of the people are dependent on food rations. |
Iraq's agriculture sector does however have a great deal of potential, with 27 per cent of the land's population suitable for cultivation and over half of this enjoying plentiful rain levels. It is estimated that less than 50 per cent of this land is currently being cultivated; this leaves room for tremendous potential growth. The lack of resource utilisation from a country once self-sufficient in agriculture can be attributed to a lack of basic farm machinery and equipment, severe water shortage, low level of technology uptake and a lack of financial incentive.
The World Bank estimated that the immediate cost of recovery for the agricultural sector will be around $3.6 billion. The capital expenditure budgeted is only $2.4 billion; this leaves a further $1.2 billion needing to be found in external funding. Additionally, research and training is also needed to enable market liberalisation, competitive levels of production and the eradication of state subsidies. |
The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture is looking, with the help of stakeholders, to improve the operating environment of the Iraqi agriculture sector. Technical workshops have been held through the Crop Technology and Demonstrations Program in Mosul, while the ministry has also renovated veterinary hospitals and clinics through grants. The Baghdad University School of Agriculture has also received funding to benefit students looking to work within the sector.
The granting of a $5 million USAID contract for the reconstruction and development of the industry in October 2003 to Development Alternatives, Inc. for the one-year 'Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq' (ARDI) identified the principal goals as being to support Iraqi initiatives to revitalise agricultural production, stimulate income and employment through enterprise and market development, develop rural financial organisations and rehabilitate the country's natural resources.
The program has focused on the distribution of seed, fertiliser and equipment, among other activities, with primary emphasis will be on cereals, horticulture, livestock, dairy and poultry. |
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| Close attention has been paid to the development of water resources and reclamation of soil, along with the restoration of the Iraqi marshlands in the south. Emphasis has also been placed on the longer term rehabilitation and sustainability of the sector. |
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