|
Iraq seeks India's agricultural expertise
Wednesday January 16, 2013 09:38:42 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Delhi: Iraqis will
travel to India from April to get trained in irrigation and land
reclamation.
The first batch of over 500 Iraqis will learn how to boost
agricultural production and reduce their country's dependence on
imports, which account for 90 percent of its food requirement.
"Iraq has sought India's assistance for training in irrigation,
agriculture and land reclamation," J.S. Samra, chief executive
officer of the National Rainfed Area Authority, told IANS.
"Iraq was self-sufficient in food in 1950 but in 2010 it imported
about 90 percent of its requirements at a cost of $12 billion,
which is 13 percent of its annual budget.
"India used to import about 10 million tonnes of wheat annually in
the 1960s, and now exports 11 million tonnes foodgrain," Samra
said.
He said Iraq had the potential to become self-sufficient in
meeting its food needs.
According to him, inadequate water management was a reason for an
average import of five million tonnes of wheat per year by Iraq.
Samra said the UN's food sanctions against Iraq in 1990 prohibited
foreign investment in agriculture. The oil-for-food programme
stipulated that food imports could only be made against oil export
by Iraq.
Iraq's cultivable land at 11.5 million hectare comprises 26
percent of its geographical area.
"Only half of Iraq's cultivable land is cultivated," Samra said,
adding that irrigation was critical in low rainfall countries like
Iraq.
Samra said irrigation in Iraq suffers from damaged infrastructure,
water logging and building up of salt in the soil. It needs
investment for drainage to reclaim saline soil.
"Agriculture productivity in Iraq is half of neighbouring
countries. There is a need to revitalise and remodel investments
in rural development," Samra added.
"Lining of irrigation system, pipes, sprinkles and drip system
would require massive investments."
Samra, also an agriculture scientist, also said that Iraq needed
watershed development in hilly areas and rainwater conservation.
"Storage in small dams can enhance production. Diversification to
horticulture can enhance incomes. India has vast experience (in
these areas)."
Iraq once had one of the oldest irrigation systems in the world
and was known for food production.
Indian farm machinery, veterinary services and fisheries
technology would also be relevant to Iraq due to similar
socio-economic conditions.
Samra said protected cultivation of fresh food around urban
centres can enhance productivity and provide off-season supply of
vegetables and fruits.
(Prashant Sood can be contacted at prashant.s@ians.in)
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I |
|
|
|
|
More Headlines |
|
Over 3 mn more electricity connections in
Maharashtra by 2016 |
|
Over 80 killed in Aleppo University blasts |
|
Bathroom the cleanest place to eat in hotels! |
|
India as world super power impossible
without Muslims: Jaiswal |
|
'Century-old electric car was far ahead of
its time' |
|
Tripura eyes supplying power to rest of
India - via Bangladesh |
|
Chautala, son convicted in graft case, in custody |
|
Abu Dhabi to host international IT conference |
|
Suicide bomber kills Iraqi MP, three guards |
|
Police probing blast in Ghaziabad mosque |
|
Britain may sue churches for refusing gay
marriages |
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
Chavan announces judicial enquiry into Dhule riots
More than a week after riot broke out in this North Maharashtra
city, state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday announced
a judicial enquiry into the Dhule riot by a retired
»
It was a police action, not riot: Maharashtra legislator
Dhule
Riots: Now Dy Mayor, Muslim councilors threaten to resign
Upset by son's death in Dhule firing, Dy
Tahsildar to resign from post
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
Chautala, son convicted in graft case, in custody
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief and son Ajay, both
Haryana legislators, were taken into custody immediately after the
ruling by the Central Bureau of Investigation court in Rohini. The
court also convicted 53 others
»
|
|
India as world super power impossible
without Muslims: Jaiswal
Says, it would be a
pipe dream if Muslims not brought into the mainstream; every paisa
in 12th plan will be monitored, says Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi
The concerted and sustained campaign
to get allocated substantial increase in the funds in the 12th
Five-Year-Plan
»
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Supreme Court orders Pakistan PM's arrest
The apex court ordered the prime minister's arrest along with 16
others during the hearing on a power rental case. The court also
ordered that the arrested people be produced before it later
Tuesday, Online new »
|
|
Police probing blast in Ghaziabad mosque
The blast in the mosque in Dasna town occurred at about 10 p.m.
Monday and damaged the main entrance gate and the plastering but
no one was injured. Immediately after the explosion, senior police
and civil officers including
»
|
|
Sudais assures
Mataf expansion won’t affect flow of Zamzam water
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques
announced that the demolition work taking place as part of the
ongoing expansion of the "mataf" (area for circumambulation »
|
|
Chavan announces judicial enquiry into Dhule riots
More than a week after riot broke out in this North Maharashtra
city, state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday announced
a judicial enquiry into the Dhule riot by a retired
»
It was a police action, not riot: Maharashtra legislator
Dhule
Riots: Now Dy Mayor, Muslim councilors threaten to resign
Upset by son's death in Dhule firing, Dy
Tahsildar to resign from post
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
President Pranab Mukherjee, Union
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kapil
Sibal, Union Minister for Minority Affairs K. Rahman Khan and
other dignitaries at the release of the Commemorative Postage
Stamp on Shaikhul Hind’s “Silk Letter Movement” & 60th Session
of Shaikhul Hind’s Silk Letter Movement Centenary, in New
Delhi on January 11, 2013. |
|
|
|
Recommend the story to
your friends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links