The reality of agricultural security and livestock production in Iraq and ways to develop it

03-11-2025

The Reality of Agricultural Security and Animal Production in Iraq and Ways of Development
 The Center for Information and Decision- Making  Support at Bayt Al-Hikma ( House of Wisdom) organized a scientific lecture titled: "The Reality of Agricultural Security and Animal Production in Iraq: Ways for Development," on Monday, November 3, 2025, at  the Mirrors Hall at Bayt Al-Hikma.
The session was chaired by Dr. Bilal Kadhim Al-Jawadi from the College of Administration and Economics at the University of Baghdad, and the rapporteur was Mrs. Lamyaa Abdul Hadi Mohammed from the Center for Information and Decision - Making Support . The keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Iskandar Hussein Ali, Head of the Agricultural Economics Department at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad.
The lecture shed light on analyzing the reality of agricultural security in Iraq, diagnosing the challenges facing agricultural production, and proposing scientific visions for developing this vital sector, thereby contributing to achieving self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imports. The lecture also highlighted the importance of sustainable water resource management and the role of modern technologies in raising productivity and improving water use efficiency.
During the lecture, Dr. Iskandar Hussein reviewed the agricultural sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the cultivated areas in Iraq, production levels, in addition to indicators of the food gap and food waste rates during 2024. He emphasized that agriculture in Iraq faces significant challenges, primarily water scarcity, climate change, and weak agricultural investment. This necessitates adopting modern scientific and technical solutions and implementing a series of administrative procedures and modern policies that can revitalize the agricultural sector.
In terms of technical development, Dr. Iskandar discussed the concept of smart agriculture and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital platforms, and hydroponics in supporting farmers and increasing production. He explained that the application of technology in recent years has led to a 45% increase in crop yields, a 30% improvement in water use efficiency, and a 25% increase in market access opportunities.
In conclusion, the lecturer stressed that achieving food security in Iraq requires an integrated strategic vision based on sustainable agricultural development, governance of water management, and encouraging agricultural innovation to ensure resource sustainability and improve farmers' livelihoods.
In turn, the Head of the Board of Trustees of Bayt Al-Hikma, Dr. Qahtan Nima Hassan Al-Khafaji, delivered a speech praising the researcher's efforts, stressing that the issue of agricultural security represents one of the priorities of national development in Iraq, and that such seminars contribute to unifying visions between academic institutions and decision-makers for effective management of agricultural and water resources.
The lecture was attended by a group of specialized researchers and professors interested in the matter, who enriched it with interventions and comments.

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