Sunflower cultivation jeopardized

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: Cultivation of sunflower is jeopardized as the product was not purchased by the state during the current agricultural season, the Wassit province’s agriculture director said on Thursday. “This strategic product was not purchased by the state this season,” Salam Iskandar told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The Iraqi Industry Ministry started relying on imported products to produce edible oils rather than locally produced raw agricultural materials,” he said. “The current situation would bring farmers switch to other agricultural products,” he added. The province of Wassit lies 180 km southeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. MH (P)/AmR 1