Ministry of Agriculture: We are self-sufficient in seven crops and export 13 others
Ministry of Agriculture: We are self-sufficient in seven crops and export 13 others.
2025-03-14
The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed, on Thursday, the presence of unprecedented government interest in developing the agricultural sector in the country, noting that self-sufficiency in 7 crops has been achieved and 13 crops have been exported abroad. Ministry of Agriculture spokesman Mohammed Al-Khazai told the official agency that, “In light of the many challenges, especially regarding water scarcity, the ministry is relying on expanding the preparation of agricultural plans through cultivating desert lands, relying on well water, and developing new varieties of crops that do not require large quantities of water, in addition to developing modern agricultural methods that contribute to reducing water consumption.”
He added, “We have made significant progress in the transition to modern irrigation technologies, with contracts exceeding 830 billion dinars to purchase more than 12,000 sprinklers, which will contribute to increasing agricultural areas by between one million and one and a half million dunams.”
Al-Khazai pointed out that “these steps, along with awareness campaigns launched by the ministry for farmers and peasants on the importance of water conservation and rationing its use, have resulted in a surplus in the production of key strategic crops, such as wheat, in addition to increasing the area planted with barley to 150,000 dunams.”
He explained that “Iraq has achieved self-sufficiency in seven agricultural crops throughout the year, in addition to exporting more than 13 agricultural crops abroad, including dates, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, and a number of other crops.”
Al-Khazai affirmed that “there is unprecedented government interest from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture in developing the country’s agricultural sector,” noting that “the ministry hopes to reach 30 million palm trees within the next three years.”
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