Iraq – Workshop to discuss the role of the agricultural sector in the development of the Iraqi economy

Location: Baghdad – Iraq

Language: Arabic

Voice: Natural

Duration: 00:04:02

Source: A24

Restrictions: A24 Clients

Dateline: 01-04-2022

Storyline

The Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the Al-Zawra Foundation for Economic Development, organized a workshop to discuss the role of the agricultural sector in the development of the national economy.

The workshop was attended by several experts and academics and heads of relevant unions and federations.

Five main topics were discussed which focused on the areas of food security, agricultural investment, import regulation, protection of local products, irrigation techniques, ways to support the Iraqi farmer, and the future steps to advance agriculture in Iraq.

Shotlist

• (SOUNDBITE) Iyad Al-Talbi-President of the Fish Producers Association:

“The initiative that was launched is recent and was based on correct foundations in supporting the national product and closing the borders. There was a very large smuggling activity across the borders leading to the destruction of the infrastructure of all livestock projects, not just fish. We have great hope for supporting the national product and closing borders with neighboring countries. These countries destroy economic projects and livestock, including fish. Recently, the scarcity of grain and the increase in feed prices led to the failure to raise fish and the rest of the livestock, and therefore this affects the Iraqi market. We hope to cut off imports and rely on the Iraqi national product.”

• (SOUNDBITE) Naji Al-Ghazi, President of the Al-Zawra Foundation for Economic Development:

“Our goal in this workshop is to bring together the decision-maker and the stakeholders in the agricultural sector under the auspices of the Al-Zawraa Foundation for Economic Development. We will work on presenting very important study research in the agricultural sector. There are challenges and obstacles facing this sector. We put them in the form of questions to the decision-maker to overcome them because today the agricultural sector is important and is considered one of the very important pillars in supporting the Iraqi economy “.

• (SOUNDBITE) Sadiq Jaafar – Head of Iraqi Agricultural Engineers Syndicate:

“We believe in the Iraqi Agricultural Engineers Syndicate that the agricultural sector is the real guarantor of enhancing Iraqi food security. we believe that this workshop is to prepare for an agricultural conference sponsored by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in coordination with the sectoral authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Agricultural Engineers Syndicate addition to the Union General of Agricultural Associations and the Syndicate of Veterinarians. We believe that food security can only be achieved after the development of the agricultural sector, and without it, there can be no food security, especially at the current stage. We believe that investing in the agricultural sector is a step to the advancement of this sector and providing the best opportunities for unemployed agricultural engineers.”

To Download Material