Iraq announces Agricultural Reforms

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Cabinet has agreed a package of measures aimed at improving agricultural efficiency and food security.

The decisons were made at this week's cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, and include:

1. Redirecting fertiliser subsidies towards modern irrigation techniques;
2. Exempting compound fertilisers (e.g. DAP, MAP, NPK), foliar fertilisers, liquid fertilisers, and organic fertilisers from regulations regarding the importation of hazardous materials;
3. Adopting electronic communication between relevant parties to speed up fertiliser import, transportation, and storage procedures;
4. Reaffirming the implementation of previous cabinet decisions on fertiliser imports and distribution;
5. Allowing the Southern Fertilizer Company to sell its products to the General Union of Agricultural Associations, private sector, and agents, deviating from previous regulations;
6. Forming a task force led by the National Intelligence Agency and including the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant stakeholders to oversee fertiliser import and pricing;
7. Approval of foreign inspection agencies' certificates for chemical, biological, and radiation checks on exports to Iraq, aligning with Iraqi standard specifications for inspection and certification;
8. Ensuring necessary facilitation for domestic fertiliser entry, storage, and sales by related entities to support the agricultural season and food security;
9. Economic Council to determine next season's wheat purchasing price, based on international rates with an appropriate support margin. Extra incentives for wheat irrigated with modern techniques and a reduced support margin for traditionally irrigated wheat;
10. Continuing support for seeds and pesticides in line with the previous winter season (2022-2023) and the upcoming agricultural plan (2023-2024).

(Source: Media Office of the Prime Minister)