Archive | Agriculture

Iraq Business News brings you the latest news on developments and opportunities in Iraq agriculture.

Wheat Harvest Threatened by Heavy Rains

By John Schnittker, Chief Economist at Schnittker Associates, and former Ministry Advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Heavy rainfall over the southern provinces of Iraq during early May has potentially reduced Iraq’s expected wheat harvest by 25-30% according to a statement by Trade Minister, Dr. Khairallah Hassan Babiker. Initial reports indicate that losses are […]

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The UN in Iraq Goes Green

The UN in Iraq Goes Green: Taking a trip with the ‘Renewable Energy Travelling Roadshow’ The latest installation at the UN compound in Baghdad is big, blue, and rather pungent. It is also the first step towards a greener and more sustainable UN in Iraq. The large contraption sits in the garden under the trees. […]

Iraq Raises Grain Prices

Iraq has increased prices it pays to its wheat, barley and rice growers, reports Azzaman. Kareem Elaywi, a parliamentarian in the Water and Agriculture Commission, said farmers shipping their produce to government silos will receive 900,000 dinars for a ton of wheat, 750,000 dinars for a ton of barley and 1 million dinars for a ton […]

Experts Pressure Govt to Make Marshes a Natural Reserve

By Matthew Gayle. While attending  festival in southern Iraq, Iraqi experts urged the government to declare the Iraqi marshes in that region a national park. The festival was part of a series of activities that the Iraq Nature Organization is developing to lobby the government and international bodies to declare the marches a natural reserve. […]

Video: Iraqi Marshlands Restored by Nature

From Reuters. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Drained by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the 1990s, Iraq's southern marshlands are undergoing a remarkable transformation. Saddam's attempt to destroy the wetlands came in response to an uprising by Marsh Arabs after the […]

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UN Envoy Supports Greenbelts in Iraq

Speaking at a ministerial meeting on sand and dust-storms in the region, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21 February, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler (pictured), expressed his support for greenbelts in Iraq and proposed the establishment of a regional […]

Wheat Harvest Exceeds 3m Tons

By John Lee. Azzaman reports that wheat production in 2012 rose to 3.26 million tons, despite a lack of rain.The harvest had fallen to an average 1.5 million tons in the years follow the US-led invasion in 2003, with the country becoming a net importer of wheat and other cereals. Deputy Agriculture Minister Mahdi al-Qaisi […]

US Embassy Commemorates World Wetlands Day

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad hosted a panel discussion with Iraqi government and civil society leaders on January 31 in commemoration of World Wetlands Day. World Wetlands Day is celebrated around the world to promote public awareness of wetlands’ ecological, economical, and social value and benefits. The program featured remarks by Shaimaa Ubaid Karim of […]

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US, Iraq to Improve Iraqi Agriculture

The U.S. Embassy, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), met from January 15 to January 17 to help Iraq improve its agricultural sector through the U.S.-funded Harmonized Support for Agricultural Development (HSAD) project. This project will improve agricultural investment opportunities and efficiency and introduce modern […]

Iraq Buys Australian and Canadian Wheat

By John Lee. The Iraqi Grain Board has bought 300,000 metric tons of wheat for delivery in March and April. Dow Jones reports that 250,000 tons were bought from Australia, while the remaining 50,000 tons was of Canadian origin. The Canadian wheat, along with 100,000 tons of wheat from Australia, was purchased from Glencore International. Australia's […]