AgricultureEconomy

Iraq Launches Major Irrigation Initiative: 13,000 Modern Systems to Boost Agriculture Across 1.5 Million Dunums

Economy Update – Baghdad

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture announced the distribution of 13,000 modern irrigation systems aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector for the years 2023 and 2024, with coverage for an area totaling 1.5 million dunams.

Undersecretary Mahdi Sahar stated that the ministry has implemented strategies to combat water scarcity in agriculture. These strategies include increased financial allocations for modern irrigation channel projects and the distribution of irrigation systems to local farmers. Over the period of 2023 and 2024, contracts for modern irrigation systems have amounted to more than 800 billion dinars, supported by the government’s commitment to enhance the agricultural sector.

Sahar elaborated that the contract encompasses 13,000 modern irrigation systems which, in total, provide coverage for 1.5 million dunams. This initiative is part of an agricultural strategy that utilizes modern irrigation technologies coupled with underground well systems, optimizing water usage to improve crop yields per dunam—a result already observed over the past two years.

He further pointed out that Iraq achieved self-sufficiency during two consecutive agricultural seasons, attributed to the increased adoption of modern irrigation systems through a project that offers 30% support for these systems, with a recovery duration of ten years. This initiative has served to encourage farmers in embracing modern irrigation technologies.

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