Abstract
For over half a century, Iraqi society has endeavored to reinvest tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues into the agricultural sector and its infrastructure, including the construction of dams, water reservoirs, land reclamation, and livestock and plant production projects, reaching capacities that nearly met or exceeded the domestic demand for food and industrial raw materials. However, rapid population growth alongside rising oil-driven income levels has shifted domestic demand, necessitating a continuous developmental trajectory for the agricultural sector. Consequently, this research examines the developments within both the plant and livestock branches over recent years and their ability to sustain domestic food requirements. Given that demographic shifts, rising expenditure, and the drive to satisfy human nutritional needs are widening the food gap, it is imperative to expand cultivated areas, mobilize livestock capacities, and—most crucially—enhance yield and productivity levels to align with those of developed nations. This requires accelerated agricultural strategies and policies, which are explored in this study with a particular focus on the researcher's recommendations; failure to implement such measures could lead to a genuine food crisis, forcing a heavy and unsustainable reliance on imports. In collaboration with other scholars to diagnose these structural imbalances, this paper elucidates the formidable challenges facing production levels. The primary challenge remains the sector's inability to optimize performance and elevate commodity supply in proportion to the effective demand for food and industrial raw materials. Addressing this inability to meet the needs of a growing population bolstered by oil wealth is vital. Therefore, strategic focus must shift toward narrowing the food gap and mitigating the risks of global food shortages caused by the diversion of staple grains—such as wheat, corn, and rice—toward ethanol production as an alternative to petroleum derivatives.
DOI
10.33095/jeas.v15i53.1174
Subject Area
Economics
First Page
151
Last Page
165
Recommended Citation
Al-Dubaissi, A. M. (2009). The Reality of the Agricultural Sector in Iraq and Challenges Facing the Future. Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 15(53), 151-165. https://doi.org/10.33095/jeas.v15i53.1174
