Iraq rice report

ice is mainly grown in four provinces in central and southern Iraq. However, the area under cultivation has been diminishing rapidly due to water shortages and higher levels of soil salinity. Last May, the government had to reduce the planted area, which was about 68,750 hectares in 2008, by half.

As a result, Iraq had to import most of its wheat and rice to meet domestic needs. Iraq had its worst cereal harvest this year in a decade, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

 

Domestic rice production went down from an average of 500,000 tons to 250,000 tons. Rice consumption is 1.5 million tons a year, he said.

FAO is calling for an agreement between Iraq and neighbouring countries on water allocations, the use of modern irrigation technology to make optimum use of available water, consideration of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, the introduction of new drought-resistant seeds, and the rehabilitation of pumps, drainage networks and wells.