Iraq – Iraqi Government discusses food security bill.

Location: Baghdad – Iraq

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:04:15

Source: A24 subscribers

Restrictions: A24 clients

Dateline: 02/04/2022

Storyline:

The Iraqi Government took a series of decisions in an attempt to deal with the price increase of food products, which resulted in economic consequences and exacerbated the living conditions of Iraqis. The First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives Hakim Al-Zamili stressed that the government intends to ensure that the Ministry of Trade provides people with monthly food supplies. He mentioned the formation of joint committees from different ministries to monitor the market, control prices and prevent monopoly. The Minister of Agriculture said the government is considering a strategy for supporting the agricultural sector in accordance with the food security bill.

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Soundbite (Muhammad Karim Al-Khafaji – Iraqi Minister of Agriculture):

            “The purpose of the food security bill is to support the agricultural sector in order for farmers to continue working on their farmlands planting grains or vegetables, as well as develop the private sector crop production. Providing fertilizer, seeds, pesticides and irrigation technologies is essential for developing the agricultural sector. If there is no subsidy, the sector will not be able to grow. We went through a crisis in 2021 because of the lack of subsidies. This bill supports the agricultural sector to ensure food security. This is the first time Iraq discusses a bill with such urgency at the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary.”

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