Economy Update – Baghdad
The Ministry of Agriculture has unveiled a strategic initiative aimed at increasing the number of palm trees in Iraq to 30 million within a five-year timeframe. Additionally, the ministry has announced the establishment of marketing channels for the export of dates to international markets.
“Iraq is experiencing substantial growth in its palm tree population, surpassing 22 million due to significant investment projects implemented across various provinces,” the spokesperson stated. “These initiatives include a project undertaken by an engineer that has resulted in the planting of over one million palm trees, alongside projects associated with the holy shrines in Karbala (Abbasiya, Husayniya) and Najaf Al-Ashraf.” He noted that “farmers are increasingly turning their focus back to palm cultivation, spurred by the support from the Ministry of Agriculture and the current government, which prominently features the provision of new marketing channels for Iraqi dates in global markets.”
The spokesperson continued, “Iraq has successfully developed new varieties of high-quality palm trees that command premium prices in international markets, which has motivated farmers and investors to expand their ventures in this sector.” Furthermore, “the Minister of Agriculture’s numerous international engagements have led to the establishment of direct marketing outlets to export Iraqi dates to several countries, including Morocco and Turkey, as well as various European nations such as Italy, Germany, and France, with plans to broaden outreach to the UK.”
He highlighted, “The growing focus on palm cultivation is expected to enable Iraq to surpass the 30 million palm tree mark within the next five years or sooner, marking a significant achievement for the nation following the challenges this sector has faced in recent years.” In conclusion, he added, “Iraq is poised to reclaim its esteemed position among the leading countries in the palm and date industry, excelling not only in agriculture but also in date-related industries that are gaining traction in international markets.”
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