The project aims to enable poor smallholder farmers and landless, rural households in Basra, Missan and Thi-Qar Governorates to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods, while maintaining or improving the natural resources and biodiversity. Project’s activities will focus on the food and nutrition security and income and self-reliance of Iraqi smallholder farmers, livestock keepers and landless individuals by promoting three priority value chains: vegetables, buffalo (animal fodder and dairy processing) and dates. The project will specifically target women, female-headed households and youth who are interested in undertaking production, income generating activities or ancillary services within the three identified value chains.

Overall objective: Contribute to the Iraqi economy by improving the agriculture sector in southern Iraq, offering livelihood opportunities to the rural poor and achieving a more resilient food system.

Specific Objective: Poor smallholder farmers and landless rural households in Basrah, Missan and Thi-Qar Governorates enabled to improve agricultural productivity and income generation in priority value chains of vegetables, buffalo and dates while enhancing land and water resources and bio-diversity.

Expected Results:

1.Improved knowledge management among target stakeholders in the agriculture and water sectors

2.Strengthened capacity of public and private agricultural service providers in target value chains

3.Improved on-farm management of natural resources (especially water) and bio-diversity

4.Increased productivity and commercialization capacity of smallholders in target value chains

5.Developed homestead and group-based micro-enterprises

This project is part of the EU programmatic approach on employment creation and agri-food business development implemented with several partners (FAO, GIZ, ILO, IOM, ITC, and UNESCO) and focusing on improving the enabling environment for business and trade, developing the capacities of public and private service providers, support micro and small and medium enterprises and promoting agribusiness development.

EU Contribution

20 M EUR

Start – end

2021-2023

Location

Basra, Missan and Thi Qar Governorates  

Beneficiaries

14 900 farming community members

Ministry of Agriculture

Implementing partner

FAO  The Food and Agriculture Organisation

Funding Instrument

Development and Cooperation Instrument