Economic Update – Baghdad
The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the successful execution of 90% of its winter agricultural plan, attributing this achievement to the adoption of advanced government-sponsored irrigation techniques. These methods have led to enhanced productivity, positioning Iraq to potentially reach self-sufficiency in wheat production this season.
Mahdi Sahar al-Jubouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that the ministry has deployed its workforce across various governorates to ensure the completion of the winter agricultural initiative. This plan, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Water Resources, targets a total cultivated area of 5.1 million dunams.
The allocation of the winter agricultural plan is as follows: one million dunams will utilize surface irrigation, while 3.1 million dunams will utilize contemporary irrigation systems drawing from groundwater resources. Specifically, 4.8 million dunams are designated for wheat cultivation, and an additional 300,000 dunams are set aside for Fur barley and other winter crops.
Al-Jubouri noted a significant increase in the cultivation of green crops utilizing protected and drip irrigation techniques in recent years. This shift has not only increased farmers’ incomes throughout the winter months but has also bolstered local production and contributed to price stabilization in the markets.
He further disclosed that the completion rate of the winter agricultural plan has exceeded 90%, driven by modern irrigation systems that have yielded productivity levels surpassing one ton per dunam in certain regions.
Al-Jubouri emphasized that Iraq is on track to achieve wheat self-sufficiency for the third consecutive year, having reached this milestone in the previous two years.