FAO establishes partnerships to improve date palm, tomato in Iraq
A farmer collects dates from a palm tree at a date palm orchard. Photo: Reuters
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq, held a large consultative meeting in Basra to develop tomato, date palm and buffalo sectors, as the main value chains in southern Iraq, according to a press statement issued by the FAO.
The statement explained that the meeting was held with the Agriculture Directorate, Farmers Associations, Al-Zubair Tomato Producers Association, tomato and date palm farmers, with the participation of women farmers from the Office of Rural Women’s Affairs and representatives from the private sector.
A project entitled ‘Restoration and enhance the resilience of agricultural food systems in southern Iraq’ is funded by the European Union and implemented by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture in Iraq. The project is dedicated to develop date palm, tomato and buffalo sectors, according to the statement.
The FAO team highlighted that technical support will be accompanied by marketing interventions that will be based on a partnership including farmers’ association, Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders with project initial support, the statement elaborated.
Remarks of the participants as well as directions and comments of the local authorities were noted, as the Director of Agriculture and the Head of Farmers Associations in Basra confirmed their commitments to ensure the success for this innovative vision for supporting the marketing of both tomato and date crops, the statement added.