Iraq Business News brings you the latest news on developments and opportunities in Iraq agriculture.
The KRG's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources had decided to ban the importation of more vegetables and fruit in order to boost the local production, reports AKnews. From the beginning of July it will impose the ban on sunflower seeds, watermelon, melon and eggplant, said Nuri Ismael, loan and marketing director at the Ministry. […]
The former CFO of Australia's AWB has admitted to authorising payments to Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government. According to a report in the Herald Sun, Paul John Ingleby, aged 60, admitted he failed to "join the dots" and question payments disguised as inland transport fees before approving the transactions which ultimately went to Hussein's regime. The […]
A source in the Iraqi trade ministry told Reuters on Thursday that Iraq bought 100,000 tonnes of rice from Argentina, Uruguay and Thailand following a tender that closed on 10th June: 30,000 tonnes will be sourced from Argentina; 30,000 tonnes from Uruguay; and, Commodity trading firm Olam International will supply Iraq with the 40,000 tonnes […]
AKnews reports that Iraq has received 31,000 tons of Uruguayan rice. Three Canadian ships "loaded with wheat" (sic) arrived at Iraqi ports as part of the country’s efforts to strengthen the food supply program on which 60 percent of Iraqis rely. The ministry started transferring the cargo that arrived through the port of Umm Qasr […]
By Layth Mahdi, Agricultural Advisor. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On-farm demonstration trials are used to teach farmers to improve their agricultural practices and increase yield. It serves as one of the most valuable extension education program to help farmers to […]
After almost 10 years, the former chief executive of Australia's AWB Ltd has admitted to four breaches of the law relating bribes paid to Saddam Hussein's government between 2001 and 2005 to secure wheat sales. According to the report in The Australian, Andrew Lindberg's four admissions relate to his having failed to tell the AWB […]
The Director General of Iraq's Grain Board expects wheat production to fall by 16 percent to 1.5 million metric tons this year because of drought, forcing the country to boost imports to 3 million tons. “Unfortunately, there is a drought this year in the northern provinces,” Ibrahim told Bloomberg. “Last year production was around 1.78 million […]
Kurdistan's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources has announced a ban on importation of certain fruits and vegetables from next month, according to AKnews. The Marketing Director at the ministry, Nouri Ismael, said that this comes as a result of the region achieving self-sufficiency in these agricultural products. Peppers will be banned permanently, while cucumbers, […]
By Bob Nottelmann, crop production specialist with California Pacific Plant Exports (Cal Pacific) and Ekland Marketing of California (Emco). The introduction of commercial strawberry production in Iraq has been a satisfying success. Following the initial introduction of certified nursery stock to a few trial growers in 2009, the production of strawberries in the country has […]
Wheat prices surged on Wednesday after Iraq said it bought 400,000 metric tons from the U.S., Australia, Russia, Romania and Kazakhstan. The contracts are for delivery in July and August, a spokesman for the grain board told Bloomberg. (Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters)
The University of Mosul has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northern Ireland's Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to increase collaboration and student exchange in areas such as food sciences. AFBI provides expert diagnostic and analytical testing services to the Northern Ireland agri-food industry, and to clients abroad, and the Belfast Telegraph reports that […]
Australia will make an initial investment of $2.5 billion in Iraq's agriculture sector, according to a report from AKnews. Lyndall Sachs (pictured), Australia's Ambassador to Iraq, made the statement during a joint press conference with Wasit Governor, Mahdi al-Zubaidi. The government will start with soil reclamation projects in Wasit, Dhi Qar, and Diwaniya provinces, and […]
