From UN Iraq. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Government of Iraq, FAO and World Bank launch new initiative to strengthen farm management and dairy value chains in Iraq
The Government of Iraq, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank, officially launched a new project to support improved farm management and pilot innovative aggregation models in Iraq's dairy sector. The project is overseen by the Government of Iraq through the Ministry of Agriculture, implemented by FAO and funded through the Iraq Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Fund (I3RF), hosted at the World Bank.
The project was launched during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Agriculture in Baghdad, bringing together H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Abdul Rahim Al-Shammari; the minister's Technical Deputy , Dr. Mithaq Al Khafaji; DG of International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Planning, Dr Saher Abdul Kadhim Mahdi; the Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Dr. Rezgar Hamad; the Head of the General Union of Agricultural Cooperative Associations; World Bank Group Country Manager for Iraq, Emanuel Salinas Munoz and FAO Representative in Iraq, Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan.
The project aims to enhance productivity, commercialization and climate resilience in the dairy value chain by introducing innovative aggregation approaches that better connect smallholder farmers to markets, building on and scaling up successful approaches while piloting and developing models that can be replicated in other parts of Iraq.
H.E. the Minister of Agriculture , Abdul Rahim Jasim Mohammed Al-Shammari, highlighted the importance of the project in supporting the development of the agricultural sector:
"Strengthening farm management and improving value chain integration are key priorities for the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance productivity, ensure food security and increase farmers' incomes. We welcome this partnership with FAO and the World Bank to support the development of Iraq's livestock sector."
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Region highlighted the importance of coordinated institutional efforts and continued cooperation to support agricultural development in line with national and regional priorities. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening farmers' capacities, improving market linkages and promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The project will directly benefit around 7,000 rural households across selected governorates, with a particular focus on small-scale livestock farmers, including women, through access to productive assets, capacity development and climate-smart practices.
This official launch marks an important milestone in advancing cooperation between the Government of Iraq, FAO and the World Bank to strengthen the dairy value chain and support more productive, sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
Emanuel Salinas Munoz, World Bank Group Country Manager for Iraq, highlighted the importance of the initiative in supporting sustainable agricultural development in Iraq:
"By piloting innovative aggregation models, project activities will help unlock opportunities for smallholder farmers and contribute to more inclusive and sustainable growth in the agri-food sector. The World Bank is committed to supporting Iraq's efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity, create more and better jobs, improve market access and promote climate-resilient livelihoods."
Through a combination of infrastructure support, technical training and knowledge sharing, the project will contribute to improving milk quality, increasing incomes and building more resilient agri-food systems in Iraq.
The project will also support the introduction and testing of innovative aggregation approaches, while strengthening farm management, market linkages and climate-smart practices across the targeted governorates.
FAO Representative in Iraq, Salah El Hajj Hassan, underscored FAO's commitment to continuing to support efforts towards sustainable transformation in the sector, stating:
"We highly appreciate the Government of Iraq and World Bank Group trust. This project marks an important step towards transforming Iraq's dairy sector through innovative aggregation models that connect farmers to markets, improve productivity and enhance climate resilience. In close partnership with the Government of Iraq, FAO will continue to support efforts to strengthen sustainable agrifood systems and expand opportunities for farmers, particularly women and youth, with the support of the Iraq Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Fund and the World Bank."
The initiative contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 1, SDG 2 and SDG 13, and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025-2029) for Iraq, supporting resilient livelihoods and sustainable agri-food systems.
(Source: UN Iraq)
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