Iraq

Iraqi scientists have had limited access to international developments in the agricultural sector for over two decades. Consistent with other support provided by the Australian Government, the ACIAR-managed, AusAIDfunded projects are intended to facilitate the development of modern and sustainable agricultural production and marketing systems in Iraq.

In Iraq, pressures to abandon cereal-fallow rotations exacerbated soil degradation and nutrient depletion to the extent that established cropping systems are in serious decline. The introduction of sustainable tillage will play a key role in restoring these systems and spillover benefits are also expected beyond Iraq. The project has been shaped by the relevance of Australian expertise to Iraqi conditions, but constrained by the inaccessibility of Iraq by Australian scientists. It focuses on the enhancement of barley, wheat and grain legume production under dryland conditions in northern Iraq through the introduction and evaluation of appropriate modern varieties; and on the adaptation of improved management practices, including tillage, fertiliser and weed control techniques. Achieving sustainable increase in domestic production is now a national imperative. Significant yield improvements are anticipated, given that current yields of these crops are only about one-third of those under similar conditions in developed countries.

Iraq's agricultural sector represents a vital component of its economy as it is the largest employer (25% of the labour force) and the second largest industry after oil (contribution to GDP). The 2 million-hectare central-southern irrigated zone that produces vegetables and fruit as well as cereals is under increased pressure from salinity. According to the FAO, it is estimated that approximately 75% of this region is moderately saline and another 25% has levels of salinity that prevent farming. Ineffective and poorly maintained irrigation infrastructure, compounded by increasing levels of salinity of the irrigation water from both the Euphrates and Tigris rivers due to changed water regimes, has led to the current situation. ACIAR's proposed project focuses on understanding salinisation processes, water management and the use of moderately saline soil for agricultural production. The project is funded by AusAID and managed by ACIAR, and executed by ICARDA and Australian research organisations.