Archive | Agriculture

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

Iraq's Grain Board Issues Wheat Tender

The Grain Board of Iraq (Ministry of Trade) has announced a tender for the supply of 50,000 tonnes of wheat. The deadline for bids is 10:00 am Baghdad time on 6th September. Please click here to download the tender details.

Iraq's 'Garden of Eden' an Agricultural Disaster Waiting to Happen

According to this report from NIQASH, many believe the original Garden of Eden, as described in both the Koran and Bible, is located in Basra. Increasingly though climate change, water shortages and urban sprawl mean Basra’s farmers are coming to doubt that story. War and conflict have led to the loss of many farms and […]

Integrity Commission Investigates Sugar Deal

A member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Integrity Commission has said that southern Iraq’s Basra Integrity Commission had opened an investigation about a government’s deal to purchase 100,000 tons of sugar at above the international market price. Aliyia Nuseif told Aswat al-Iraq news agency that “the Trade Ministry had signed a contract with Zahrat al-Jibal Company […]

Iraq's Second-Largest Lake 'Dry in 2 years'

Almost 2,000 kilometres in size, Lake Razzaza is Iraq’s second largest lake. But increasing saline levels and decreasing water levels mean that the area is heading for economic, social and environmental disaster. And nobody seems to have any solutions. Once it was a centre for the local fishing industry, a lake teeming with commercial activity, […]

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Iraq Plans to Become a Grain Exporter

Iraq’s wheat production will total 1.8 million metric tons this year, and the country is expected to become an exporter of the grain by 2015, Deputy Agriculture Minister, Ghazi al-Abudi, said at a press conference in Baghdad. Bloomberg reports the minister as saying that otput is on course to reach 2.25 million to 2.5 million […]

Agricultural Oases to Tackle Desertification

The agriculture ministry has started work on a project to create green oases in various parts of the country as a way to combat a increasing desertification due to water shortages, according to a report from AKnews. The oases will be planted with palm trees and cultivated for agricultural purpose with irritation from wells. The […]

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Iran 'Promises to Increase River Flow into Iraq"

Iranian officials have promised to allow more water to flow down the Wand River [Alwand River, Hulwan River] into Iraq from Monday, according to AKnews on Sunday. Salam Abdullah, the spokesman for a group of campaigning water activists said: “Iran has promised to completely open the flow of the river by Monday.” It is not […]

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Ideas for Iraq's Agriculture

By Ronald P Verdonk, Agricultural Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Continuing with the theme of my last blog, I want to address other areas that the Iraqi public sector can tackle so that Iraqi agriculture can be more productive. In this day and age, a critical component of public policy decision-making is data […]

Petro Dollars to Boost Agribusiness in Iraq

By Layth Mahdi, Agricultural Advisor. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq is predominantly an agricultural country. It has a great diversity of climate, soil types, and natural resources. In the 1950’s, Iraq was self-sufficient in agriculture and the number one exporter […]

Iraqi Farmers to Focus on Marketing

As agriculture in Iraq grows and evolves, many farmers, packing house operators, wholesalers and food suppliers have questions about its future. They wonder whether produce will be sold in stalls or in supermarkets. They question the impact imported goods will have on Iraqi-raised products. To facilitate discussions about the future of agriculture in Iraq, the […]