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<h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/">Gorilla’s Guides</a></h1> <h2>“The only thing these sand niggers understand is force and I’m about to introduce them to it.”</h2> <div id="search"><form method="get" id="searchform" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/"> <div><input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s"/> <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search"/> </div> </form> </div> </div> <hr/> <div id="content" class="span-13 append-1"> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-13326"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2011/05/11/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b2%d8%ad%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a2%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b7%d8%b4-%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a8%d8%b3/#respond" title="Comment on الزحف العمراني والآفات والعطش تهدد بساتين النخيل العراقية">No Comments</a></span> Posted on May 11th, 2011 by Hussein Al-Bayati</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2011/05/11/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b2%d8%ad%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a2%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b7%d8%b4-%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a8%d8%b3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to الزحف العمراني والآفات والعطش تهدد بساتين النخيل العراقية">الزحف العمراني والآفات والعطش تهدد بساتين النخيل العراقية</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture/" rel="tag">Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/date-harvests/" rel="tag">Date Harvests</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/dates/" rel="tag">Dates</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d8%a9/" rel="tag">مدينة الحلة</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d9%88%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a9/" rel="tag">المحمودية</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8%d9%84/" rel="tag">بابل</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div style="text-align: right; unicode-bidi: bidi-override; direction: rtl"> <p><a title="20110511_dateharvest_01 by Gorillas Guides, on Flickr" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gorillasguides/5711244566/" class="external" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 10px 0px 5px 20px; display: inline; float: right" alt="20110511_dateharvest_01" align="right" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046im_/http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/5711244566_ec34846320_o.jpg" width="300" height="520"/></a>مع تساقط زخات المطر بين شهري تشرين الأول وتشرين الثاني في وسط وجنوب العراق ، تكون التمور قد أينعت وتساقطت بتأثير حرارة الشمس ، حينها تعلو الابتسامة على وجه الفلاح الذي يكون قد سعد بمردود جهده. </p> <p>وعلى رغم ان السنوات القليلة الماضية شهدت أنتاجا ضعيفاً من التمور ، بسبب الملوحة وندرة المياه الا ان الموسم الحالي يبشر عن نتائج افضل مع تحسن وسائل الري وتوفر الكهرباء بقدر اكبر . </p> <p>وتتوزع في محافظات العراق المختلفة لاسيما البصرة والحلة وكربلاء أصنافا من النخيل يقدر عددها ب 650 صنفاً . ويمتلك العراق اليوم 11 مليون نخلة وتسعى وزارة الزراعة إلى الوصول إلى 30 مليون نخلة خلال السنوات العشر المقبلة.</p> <p>يقول المهندس الزراعي فوزي تركي ان أعداد النخيل تراجعت في العراق الى أقل من ثلاثة ملايين بعد عام 2003، لكن هناك وعيا بضرورة البدء بحملات شعبية لزراعة النخيل ، لكن هذا الوعي لم يرافقه التطبيق الميداني.</p> </p></div> <p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2011/05/11/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b2%d8%ad%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a2%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b7%d8%b4-%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a8%d8%b3/#more-13326" class="more-link">» أقرأ التفاصيل .. | Read the rest of this entry »</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-11554"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/10/05/%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%89-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%82-%d8%a8%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%8a%d9%86%d9%87%d8%a7/#respond" title="Comment on ديالى .. "مدينة البرتقال"تحرق بساتينها بسبب قلة المياه">No Comments</a></span> Posted on October 5th, 2010 by Harith</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/10/05/%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%89-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%82-%d8%a8%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%8a%d9%86%d9%87%d8%a7/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to ديالى .. "مدينة البرتقال"تحرق بساتينها بسبب قلة المياه">ديالى .. "مدينة البرتقال"تحرق بساتينها بسبب قلة المياه</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/iraq/" title="View all posts in News" rel="category tag">News</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture/" rel="tag">Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/citrus-orchards-death-of/" rel="tag">citrus orchards - death of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/diyala/" rel="tag">Diyala</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>ديالى: أقدم فلاحو منطقة ناحية أبي صيدا (27 كم) شمال شرق بعقوبة مركزمحافظة ديالى، التي كانت تعرف ب"مدينة البرتقال" على حرق بساتينهم التي جفت بسبب قلة المياه وانعدام الخدمات التي تقدم اليهم في الوقت نفسه يحدوهم </p> <p>أمل ضعيف جدا أن يتمكنوا من زراعة غيرها، يجري كل هذا وسط صمت حكومي كبير اعتاد عليه العراقيين منذ أكثر من ست سنوات اغلب البساتين الزراعية في منطقته، والتي كانت تسمى "مدينة البرتقال" لكثرته فقدت بريقها منذ اربعة أعوام وأصبحت أسواقها تستقبل الحمضيات المستوردة بعدما كانت بساتينها الغناء مصدرا لأحسن أنواع الحمضيات وفي مقدمتها البرتقال.</p> </p></div> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-10997"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/10/iraqi-farmers-told-to-abandon-cultivating-rice/#respond" title="Comment on Iraqi farmers told to abandon cultivating rice">No Comments</a></span> Posted on June 10th, 2010 by Fatima Jameel</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/10/iraqi-farmers-told-to-abandon-cultivating-rice/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Iraqi farmers told to abandon cultivating rice">Iraqi farmers told to abandon cultivating rice</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture/" rel="tag">Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-department/" rel="tag">agriculture department</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-ministry/" rel="tag">agriculture ministry</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/anbar-rice/" rel="tag">Anbar rice</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/arable-land/" rel="tag">arable land</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/azzaman/" rel="tag">azzaman</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/cereal-imports/" rel="tag">cereal imports</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/date-palm/" rel="tag">date palm</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/date-palms/" rel="tag">date palms</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desert/" rel="tag">desert</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desertification/" rel="tag">Desertification</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/farmers/" rel="tag">farmers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/food-imports/" rel="tag">food imports</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation/" rel="tag">irrigation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation-water/" rel="tag">irrigation water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/maysan-governorate/" rel="tag">Maysan (Governorate)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/new-crops/" rel="tag">new crops</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/palm-groves/" rel="tag">palm groves</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/palm-trees/" rel="tag">palm trees</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rice/" rel="tag">rice</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rice-cultivation/" rel="tag">rice cultivation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rice-growers/" rel="tag">rice growers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/southern-iraq/" rel="tag">southern iraq</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/summer-crops/" rel="tag">summer crops</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-and-euphrates/" rel="tag">tigris and euphrates</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-and-euphrates-rivers/" rel="tag">tigris and euphrates rivers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/underinvestment/" rel="tag">underinvestment</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-level/" rel="tag">water level</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-volume/" rel="tag">water volume</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>Iraqi farmers can no longer grow rice in their fields as water levels from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have become dangerously low, a senior agriculture official said. </p> <p>“We have ordered the farmers to stop growing rice across the province for this year’s summer season,” said Nasser Manatti, head of the Agriculture Department in the southern province of Missan. </p> <p>Most of Iraq’s rice yields, estimated at 150,000 tons a year, come from Missan. </p> <p>“We have taken this measure in order to ration the use of irrigation water,” Manatti said. “We have instructed the farmers to swap to other summer crops. Rice needs a lot of water and we are afraid we cannot meet the water volume necessary for cultivation.” </p> <p>It is not clear how rice growers could suddenly swap to other crops and whether the new crops they grow will be as lucrative. </p> <p>But Manatti said his department has taken several measures to facilitate the change from rice to other crops. </p> <p>Iraq imports more than 80% of its cereal requirements which include more than 1 million tons of rice a year. </p> <p>Local rice produce, which used to meet Iraq’s domestic needs and those of the Gulf states a few decades ago, has slumped and many farmers cultivated the crop for their own needs. </p> <p>Iraqi rice is known for its fragrance and excellent flavor. Today it has turned into something like a delicacy. </p> <p>Iraqi cereal imports are expected to reach 5 million tons this year. </p> <p>Agriculture Ministry officials blame low water levels in the Euphrates and the Tigris, but the country’s agriculture has suffered badly from decades of war and insecurity, underinvestment and the unchecked felling of trees, particularly date-palms in southern Iraq. </p> <p>Iraq’s date-palm groves are estimated to have lost more than 20 million trees. </p> <p>As a result, salinity now affects nearly half the arable land in central and southern Iraq. More arable land has been lost to desertification in other areas.</p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news/2010-06-10/kurd.htm" class="external" target="_blank">Iraqi farmers told to abandon cultivating rice</a> by Talib al-Zamili <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?code=ennewsen" class="external" target="_blank">Azzaman in English</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-10959"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/06/%d9%86%d9%82%d8%b5-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%87-%d9%8a%d9%87%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85/#respond" title="Comment on نقص المياه يهدد استقرار العراق على المدى الطويل">No Comments</a></span> Posted on June 6th, 2010 by Suheila Jamil</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/06/%d9%86%d9%82%d8%b5-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%87-%d9%8a%d9%87%d8%af%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to نقص المياه يهدد استقرار العراق على المدى الطويل">نقص المياه يهدد استقرار العراق على المدى الطويل</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture/" rel="tag">Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-sector/" rel="tag">agriculture sector</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/arable-land/" rel="tag">arable land</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/barley/" rel="tag">barley</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/dams/" rel="tag">Dams</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desert/" rel="tag">desert</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desert-areas/" rel="tag">desert areas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desertification/" rel="tag">Desertification</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/euphrates-river/" rel="tag">Euphrates river,</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/hydroelectric-dams/" rel="tag">hydroelectric dams</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ibrahim-madlool/" rel="tag">Ibrahim Madlool</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/infrastructure/" rel="tag">infrastructure</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/invasion/" rel="tag">invasion</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation/" rel="tag">irrigation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation-systems/" rel="tag">irrigation systems</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ramadi/" rel="tag">Ramadi</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/reconstruction/" rel="tag">Reconstruction</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/reuters/" rel="tag">Reuters</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salinity-excessive/" rel="tag">Salinity - excessive</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sanctions/" rel="tag">Sanctions</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sewage/" rel="tag">sewage</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris/" rel="tag">Tigris</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/turkey/" rel="tag">Turkey</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/underinvestment/" rel="tag">underinvestment</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water/" rel="tag">Water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-contamination/" rel="tag">Water Contamination</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-level/" rel="tag">water level</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-levels/" rel="tag">water levels</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-pumps/" rel="tag">water pumps</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-shortages/" rel="tag">Water Shortages</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/western-anbar/" rel="tag">western Anbar</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/wheat/" rel="tag">wheat</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/wheat-barley/" rel="tag">wheat barley</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div dir="rtl" align="right"> <blockquote> <p>الرمادي (العراق) (رويترز) – ينحي عبد الله حسن باللائمة في فساد محاصيله على نقص المياه المزمن ولا يثق كثيرا في أن الحكومة الجديدة ستستطيع احياء قطاع الزراعة بالعراق الذي دمرته الحرب ويعاني من قلة الاستثمارات.</p> <p>عبد الله (50 عاما) اب لخمسة ابناء ويعيش بالفلوجة في محافظة الانبار بغرب العراق وقد اضطر للتخلي عن زرع أفدنته الخمسين والحصول على عمل بقطاع البناء بعد أن قضت سنوات الجفاف على محاصيله من القمح والشعير والطماطم ( البندورة) والخيار والبطيخ.</p> <p>ولا يحدوه امل كبير في العودة الى الزراعة التي كانت مصدر دخله الاساسي على مدى 35 عاما وينوي بيع جزء من أرضه مع استمرار تراجع مستويات المياه في الانهار والخزانات مما يرفع تركيز الملوثات في المياه.</p> <p>وقال "يسوء وضع التربة يوما بعد يوم لان مستوى الملوحة يزيد والخصوبة تقل. هذا مثل السرطان الذي يصيب جسم الانسان."</p> <p> <a title="drought_anbar" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.flickr.com/photos/27086036@N02/4675228808/" class="external" target="_blank"><img alt="drought_anbar" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046im_/http://static.flickr.com/4047/4675228808_c81b6a0ab2.jpg" border="0"/></a> <p>وبعد الاضرار التي سببتها عقود من الحرب والعقوبات يعاني العراق من نقص حاد في المياه يتوقع أن يتفاقم مع نمو سكانه الذين يبلغ عددهم نحو 30 مليونا.</p> <p>وتغلب على العراق مساحات من الصحراء القاحلة لكن به أحد اكثر أنظمة الري اتساعا في العالم غير أن سنوات الحرب ونقص الاستثمارات والعقوبات حالت دون استغلاله القليل الذي تبقى من المياه.</p> <p>ويوفر نهرا دجلة والفرات وهما النهران الرئيسيان بالعراق القليل من الغوث للسهول الجافة لان السدود الكهرومائية في تركيا وايران وسوريا المجاورة قللت من تدفق المياه.</p> <p>والاستثمار في البنية التحتية المتهالكة مثل مضخات المياه ضروري لقطاعات رئيسية كالزراعة والنفط فضلا عن جهود اعادة الاعمار الاوسع نطاقا بعد سبع سنوات من الغزو الذي قادته الولايات المتحدة وأطاح بالرئيس صدام حسين.</p> <p>وكانت محافظة الانبار وهي منطقة صحراوية شاسعة من المناطق التي تضررت بشكل خاص. وأصبحت مساحات كبيرة من الاراضي التي كانت صالحة للزراعة على نهر الفرات غير مستخدمة لعدم كفاية طرق ضخ المياه النظيفة في التربة.</p> <p>وتقول الامم المتحدة انه يتم صرف نحو 83 في المئة من مياه الصرف الصحي دون معالجة في المجاري المائية فيما تقدر الحكومة أن 24 بالمئة من العراقيين لا يحصلون على مياه امنة.</p> <p>وتعمل الحكومة مع خبراء أمريكيين محاولة انشاء محطات للمعالجة وبحيرات صناعية لتنقية المياه الملوثة.</p> <p>وأنفق فريق اعادة اعمار محافظة في الانبار -وهي وحدة أنشأتها الولايات المتحدة للمساعدة في اعادة بناء العراق- اكثر من 100 مليون دولار لبناء وصيانة منشآت المعالجة ويتوقع أن تتوفر المياه النظيفة لنحو 97 بالمئة من السكان بحلول نهاية العام.</p> <p>ويعيش نحو 90 بالمئة من سكان الانبار البالغ عددهم 1.4 مليون نسمة على امتداد نهر الفرات حيث انخفضت مستويات المياه انخفاضا حادا. وكان متوسط معدل التدفق بالنهر الف متر مكعب في الثانية قبل اقامة سدود وتباطؤ معدل التدفق فيه الى 290 مترا مكعبا في الثانية في أغسطس اب الماضي وهو أدنى مستوياته منذ ستة أعوام.</p> <p>ويقول مسؤولون عراقيون ان منشات الصرف الصحي غير كافية ويشيرون الى أن تكلفة انشاء نظام للصرف الصحي في بلدة الرمادي تبلغ 400 مليون دولار على الاقل.</p> <p>وتساءل ابراهيم مدلول مدير ماء الانبار "أين سنجد المستثمرين الذين سيأتون ويستثمرون 400 مليون دولار في مشروع كهذا.."</p> <p>وأضاف أنه يتطلع الى مساندة الحكومة المركزية لدعم مشاريع بهذا الحجم.</p> <p>وقد يطول الانتظار.. فالعراق يعيش حالة من التشكك السياسي منذ انتخابات السابع من مارس اذار التي لم تسفر عن فائز واضح.</p> <p>وقد يستغرق تشكيل حكومة جديدة عدة اشهر وسيعني هذا تأجيل المشاريع الجديدة التي تحتاج الى موافقة الحكومة.</p> <p>ومن المتوقع أن تركز الحكومة الجديدة على تحسين الخدمات الاساسية بما في ذلك التفاوض على مزيد من امدادت المياه من الجيران والتركيز على ترشيد استهلاك المياه القليلة التي لدى العراق.</p> <p>ويهدد نقص المياه تطوير حقول النفط في العراق الذي يتمتع بثالث اكبر احتياطي في العالم والذي عقد في العام الماضي صفقات يمكن أن تدفعه الى مصاف كبريات الدول المنتجة.</p> <p>فيجب ضخ كميات كبيرة من المياه تحت الارض للحفاظ على الضغط عند استخراج النفط. ويحتاج انتاج برميل واحد من النفط الى نحو 1.6 برميل من المياه.</p> <p>ويعتبر تطوير الزراعة وقطاع النفط -الذي يعمل به عدد يزيد عن عدد العاملين في أي قطاع اخر- ضروريا لصرف الشبان العاطلين عن التشدد مع تعافي العراق من أعمال العنف الطائفي التي شهدها عامي 2006 و2007 .</p> <p>لكن عبد الله الذي يجني الفي دينار (1.71 دولار) في اليوم من عمله بالبناء لا يتوقع تحسنا كبيرا مع تولي الحكومة الجديدة.</p> <p>وقال "لا أظن أن صحوة حكومية ستحدث خاصة بعد اكثر من سبع سنوات من هذا التدهور… لست متفائلا."</p> <p>من سيرينا تشودري</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://ara.reuters.com/article/topNews/idARACAE6550BN20100606?sp=true" class="external" target="_blank">نقص المياه يهدد استقرار العراق على المدى الطويل | أخبار الشرق الأوسط | Reuters</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-10957"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/06/lack-of-water-threatens-iraqs-long-term-stability-reuters/#respond" title="Comment on Lack of water threatens Iraq’s long-term stability | Reuters">No Comments</a></span> Posted on June 6th, 2010 by Suheila Jamil</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/06/06/lack-of-water-threatens-iraqs-long-term-stability-reuters/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Lack of water threatens Iraq’s long-term stability | Reuters">Lack of water threatens Iraq’s long-term stability | Reuters</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture/" rel="tag">Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-sector/" rel="tag">agriculture sector</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/arable-land/" rel="tag">arable land</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/barley/" rel="tag">barley</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/dams/" rel="tag">Dams</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desert/" rel="tag">desert</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desert-areas/" rel="tag">desert areas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desertification/" rel="tag">Desertification</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/euphrates-river/" rel="tag">Euphrates river,</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/hydroelectric-dams/" rel="tag">hydroelectric dams</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ibrahim-madlool/" rel="tag">Ibrahim Madlool</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/infrastructure/" rel="tag">infrastructure</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/invasion/" rel="tag">invasion</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation/" rel="tag">irrigation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation-systems/" rel="tag">irrigation systems</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/ramadi/" rel="tag">Ramadi</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/reconstruction/" rel="tag">Reconstruction</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/reuters/" rel="tag">Reuters</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salinity-excessive/" rel="tag">Salinity - excessive</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sanctions/" rel="tag">Sanctions</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sewage/" rel="tag">sewage</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris/" rel="tag">Tigris</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/turkey/" rel="tag">Turkey</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/underinvestment/" rel="tag">underinvestment</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water/" rel="tag">Water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-contamination/" rel="tag">Water Contamination</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-level/" rel="tag">water level</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-levels/" rel="tag">water levels</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-pumps/" rel="tag">water pumps</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-shortages/" rel="tag">Water Shortages</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/western-anbar/" rel="tag">western Anbar</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/wheat/" rel="tag">wheat</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/wheat-barley/" rel="tag">wheat barley</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <blockquote><p>Iraq (<a title="Reuters" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6550H720100606?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=401" class="external" target="_blank">Reuters</a>) – Abdullah Hasan blames chronic water shortages for ruining his crops and has little faith a new government will be able to revive Iraq’s agriculture sector, shattered by war and starved of investment.</p> <p>The 50-year-old father of five from Falluja in western Anbar province was forced to abandon his 50 acres of land and take a job in construction after years of drought killed off his wheat, barley, tomato, cucumber and watermelon harvests.</p> <p> <a title="drought_anbar" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.flickr.com/photos/27086036@N02/4675228808/" class="external" target="_blank"><img alt="drought_anbar" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046im_/http://static.flickr.com/4047/4675228808_c81b6a0ab2.jpg" border="0"/></a> <p>He has little hope of returning to farming — his primary source of income for 35 years — and plans to sell some of his land as water levels in rivers and reservoirs continue to drop, increasing the concentration of pollutants in the water.</p> <p>"Day after day, the soil situation is deteriorating because the level of salt is increasing and fertility is decreasing. It’s like a cancer hitting the human body," Hasan said.</p> <p>Already damaged by decades of war and sanctions, Iraq has acute water shortages which are expected to worsen as its population of around 30 million grows.</p> <p>A country dominated by arid desert landscapes, it has one of the most extensive irrigation systems in the world but years of war, underinvestment and sanctions have prevented it from properly harnessing what little water it has left.</p> <p>Iraq’s main rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris, provide little relief to the parched plains as hydroelectric dams in neighbouring Turkey, Iran and Syria have stemmed the water flow.</p> <p>Investment in dilapidated infrastructure like water pumps is vital for key industries like agriculture and oil, as well as the broader reconstruction effort seven years after the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.</p> <h3>SEWAGE THREAT</h3> <p>Parched Anbar province, a vast desert area, has been hit particularly hard. Large areas of formerly arable land by the Euphrates have become unusable because of insufficient methods to pump clean water through the soil.</p> <p>The United Nations says around 83 percent of sewage is being discharged untreated into waterways, while the government estimates 24 percent of Iraqis do not have access to safe water.</p> <p>Working with U.S. experts, the government is trying to build treatment plants and biological lagoons to clean polluted water.</p> <p>In Anbar, a Provincial Reconstruction Team — a unit set up by the United States to help rebuild Iraq — has spent over $100 million (69 million pounds) to build and maintain treatment facilities and expects 97 percent of residents to have clean water by year’s end.</p> <p>Around 90 percent of Anbar’s 1.4 million people live along the Euphrates, where water levels have dropped dramatically. The river had an average flow rate of 1,000 cubic metres per second before being dammed and slowed to 290 cubic metres per second last August — its lowest level in six years.</p> <p>Iraqi officials say sewage facilities in Anbar are insufficient. A sewage system for the town of Ramadi would cost at least $400 million, they say.</p> <p>"Where are we going to find investors who will come and invest $400 million in a project like that?" said Ibrahim Madlool, the director general of water for Anbar province.</p> <p>"We are looking for support from the central government to support us in projects of this magnitude."</p> <h3>POLITICAL VOID</h3> <p>The wait may be long. Iraq has been in political limbo since a March 7 election produced no outright winner.</p> <p>It could take months before a new government is formed and that means delays in new projects that need cabinet approval.</p> <p>The new government is expected to focus on improving basic services, including negotiating more water supplies from neighbours and focussing on efficient use of the little water Iraq has.</p> <p>The lack of water threatens development of the oilfields. Iraq has the world’s third-largest reserves and struck deals last year which could propel it to major producer status.</p> <p>But large volumes of water must be pumped under ground to maintain pressure as oil is extracted. Production of a barrel of oil requires around 1.6 barrels of water.</p> <p>Developing agriculture and the oil sector, which employs more people than any other industry, are seen as crucial for keeping unemployed youth away from the insurgency as Iraq recovers from the sectarian bloodshed of 2006 and 2007.</p> <p>But Hasan, who earns 2,000 dinars ($1.71) a day in construction, expects little improvement from a new government.</p> <p>"I don’t believe that a conscious government awakening will happen, especially after more than seven years of this deterioration," he said. "I am not optimistic."</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6550H720100606?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=401" class="external" target="_blank">Lack of water threatens Iraq’s long-term stability | Reuters</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-10270"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/05/02/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%aa%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%b9-%d8%a5%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%ac-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d9%85%d8%ad-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b1%d8%b2/#respond" title="Comment on العراق: تراجع إنتاج القمح والأرز">No Comments</a></span> Posted on May 2nd, 2010 by Editors</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/05/02/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%aa%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%b9-%d8%a5%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%ac-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d9%85%d8%ad-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b1%d8%b2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to العراق: تراجع إنتاج القمح والأرز">العراق: تراجع إنتاج القمح والأرز</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/features/" title="View all posts in Features" rel="category tag">Features</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-land/" rel="tag">agricultural land</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-sector/" rel="tag">agricultural sector</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-ministry/" rel="tag">agriculture ministry</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desertification/" rel="tag">Desertification</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/euphrates-river/" rel="tag">Euphrates river,</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/food-imports/" rel="tag">food imports</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/food-prices/" rel="tag">food prices</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/habaniyah-lake/" rel="tag">Habaniyah Lake</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/haditha-dam/" rel="tag">Haditha dam</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/haditha-reservoir/" rel="tag">Haditha Reservoir</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation/" rel="tag">irrigation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/mosul-dam/" rel="tag">Mosul Dam</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rate-of-flow/" rel="tag">rate of flow</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rural-areas/" rel="tag">rural areas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/soil-salinity/" rel="tag">soil salinity</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/southern-iraq/" rel="tag">southern iraq</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-and-euphrates-rivers/" rel="tag">tigris and euphrates rivers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-river/" rel="tag">Tigris River</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-crisis-iraq/" rel="tag">Water Crisis (Iraq)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-level/" rel="tag">water level</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-resources/" rel="tag">water resources</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-shortage/" rel="tag">water shortage</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>يخطط العراق لاستيراد 80 بالمائة من احتياجاته من القمح والأرز خلال عام 2010، وفقاً لغازي حسين، المتحدث باسم شركة الحبوب المملوكة للدولة والتابعة لوزارة التجارة.</p> <p>وتظهر أرقام وزارة التجارة أن العراق استورد 3.55 مليون طن من القمح و1.17 مليون طن من الأرز في العام الماضي، وهو ما يشكل ارتفاعاً مقارنة بالكميات المستوردة من القمح والأرز في عام 2008 والتي بلغت 2.54 مليون طن و610,000 طن على التوالي.</p> <p>وأوضح عون ذياب عبد الله، وهو مسؤول رفيع المستوى في وزارة الموارد المائية، أن ارتفاع الواردات ناتج عن <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://arabic.irinnews.org/ReportArabic.aspx?SID=1539" class="external" target="_blank">انخفاض منسوب المياه في نهري الفرات ودجلة </a>مما تسبب بدوره في انخفاض الإنتاج. وحذر عبد الله من أن العراق قد يواجه موسماً زراعياً صعباً نهاية هذا الصيف.</p> <p>وجاء في قوله: "لا تزال كمية المياه التي نتلقاها من نهر الفرات عند الحدود مع سوريا منخفضة عند حوالي 250 متراً مكعباً في الثانية… أما بالنسبة لنهر دجلة، فقد شهدنا انخفاضاً بنسبة 50 بالمائة في معدل التدفق من 1,680 متراً مكعباً في الثانية [خلال وقبل أبريل 2003] إلى 836 متراً مكعباً في الثانية الواحدة". وأشار إلى أن تغذية الخزانات على نهر دجلة في مستوى معقول في الوقت الحاضر، غير أن الخزانات الثلاثة الكبرى التي تتغذى من الفرات، وهي خزان حديثة وسد الموصل وبحيرة الحبانية تعاني من نقص شديد في المياه.</p> <p>وقد قررت الحكومة في عام 2009 تخفيض المساحة المزروعة بالأرز، والتي تعتمد كلها على المياه من نهر الفرات، بسبب نقص المياه وارتفاع مستويات ملوحة التربة. وعلق عبد الله على ذلك بقوله: "إن هذا الوضع يقلقنا، خصوصاً في موسم الصيف المقبل. كما يمكنه أن يؤثر [على الزراعة] في بداية فصل الشتاء المقبل عندما تحين الحاجة لأولى قطرات الري [في أكتوبر ونوفمبر]". </p> <p><strong>ضعف القطاع الزراعي</strong></p> <p>وتعد معظم الأراضي العراقية، حوالي 78 بالمائة، غير قابلة للاستخدام الزراعي. كما أن ما يقرب من 9.5 مليون هكتار من الأراضي الهامشية المتبقية تستخدم للرعي الموسمي للماعز والأغنام، وفقاً <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL32093.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">لتقرير صادر في شهر يونيو 2004 عن الكونغرس الأميركي</a>. ولا يمثل الإنتاج الزراعي سوى حوالي 4 بالمائة من الناتج المحلي الإجمالي.</p> <p>وقد تعرضت الزراعة للشلل بسبب عقود من الحرب وانعدام الأمن وقلة الاستثمارات وقطع الأشجار لجمع الحطب، مما تسبب في تفاقم الملوحة <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://arabic.irinnews.org/ReportArabic.aspx?SID=1305" class="external" target="_blank">والتصحر</a>. ووفقاً لوزارة الزراعة، تؤثر الملوحة على ما لا يقل عن 40 بالمائة من الأراضي الزراعية، لاسيما في وسط وجنوب العراق، في حين أثر التصحر على ما يتراوح بين 40 و50 بالمائة من الأراضي التي كانت منتجة في السبعينيات. </p> <p>وقد قدر <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.faoiraq.org/images/word/Agriculture%20Overview%20Feb09.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">تقرير </a>صادر عن منظمة الأغذية والزراعة (الفاو) أن "ثلث سكان العراق يقيمون في المناطق الريفية ويعتمدون على الزراعة لكسب الرزق. ومع ذلك، فإن هذا الجزء من السكان يعاني على نحو غير متناسب من الفقر وانعدام الأمن الغذائي. ويقيم 69 بالمائة من العراقيين الذين يعانون من الفقر المدقع وانعدام الأمن الغذائي في المناطق الريفية".</p> <p>وأشارت المنظمة إلى أن مزارعي القمح العراقيين عانوا من انخفاض في الإنتاج بنسبة 55 بالمائة خلال عام 2008 بسبب الجفاف الشديد، وارتفاع الاعتماد على الواردات في عام 2008 إلى 74 بالمائة بالنسبة للقمح و69 بالمائة بالنسبة لجميع الحبوب. </p> <p>وأفاد تقرير مشترك صادر عن منظمة الأغذية والزراعة ووحدة المعلومات والتحاليل المشتركة بين الوكالات (بدعم من مختلف المنظمات الرئيسية للأمم المتحدة ومكاتبها في العراق) تحت عنوان "<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ISFP/Iraq_Food_Prices-Final.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">تحليل أسعار المواد الغذائية في العراق</a>" إلى أن أسعار المواد الغذائية في البلاد ارتفعت بشكل حاد مقارنة بالأسعار العالمية. ويعود ذلك إلى حد كبير إلى زيادة الأسعار المحلية للوقود والكهرباء بنسبة 800 بالمائة في الفترة 2004-2008.</p> <p>ووفقاً لمهدي القيسي، وكيل وزارة الزراعة، أنتج العراق 117,000 طن من الأرز و1.281 طن من القمح في موسم 2008-2009. وهذه الأرقام تشمل الإنتاج المبلغ عنه من قبل المزارعين لوزارة التجارة، مما قد يجعلها منخفضة.</p> <p>ومن المتوقع أن يصل إجمالي الاستهلاك من القمح في عام 2010 إلى 4.5 مليون طن والأرز إلى 1.227 طن، حسب غازي المتحدث باسم شركة الحبوب. </p> <blockquote></blockquote> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://arabic.irinnews.org/ReportArabic.aspx?SID=1973" class="external" target="_blank">العراق: تراجع إنتاج القمح والأرز -العراق-إقتصاد-أمن غذائي</a></p> </p></div> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-10178"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/04/30/iraq-domestic-wheat-rice-production-in-the-doldrums/#comments" title="Comment on IRAQ: Domestic wheat, rice production in the doldrums">1 Comment</a></span> Posted on April 30th, 2010 by Harith</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/04/30/iraq-domestic-wheat-rice-production-in-the-doldrums/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to IRAQ: Domestic wheat, rice production in the doldrums">IRAQ: Domestic wheat, rice production in the doldrums</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-land/" rel="tag">agricultural land</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-sector/" rel="tag">agricultural sector</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-ministry/" rel="tag">agriculture ministry</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desertification/" rel="tag">Desertification</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/euphrates-river/" rel="tag">Euphrates river,</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/food-imports/" rel="tag">food imports</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/food-prices/" rel="tag">food prices</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/habaniyah-lake/" rel="tag">Habaniyah Lake</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/haditha-dam/" rel="tag">Haditha dam</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/haditha-reservoir/" rel="tag">Haditha Reservoir</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irin/" rel="tag">IRIN</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/irrigation/" rel="tag">irrigation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/mosul-dam/" rel="tag">Mosul Dam</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rate-of-flow/" rel="tag">rate of flow</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/rural-areas/" rel="tag">rural areas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/soil-salinity/" rel="tag">soil salinity</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/southern-iraq/" rel="tag">southern iraq</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-and-euphrates-rivers/" rel="tag">tigris and euphrates rivers</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tigris-river/" rel="tag">Tigris River</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-crisis-iraq/" rel="tag">Water Crisis (Iraq)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-level/" rel="tag">water level</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-resources/" rel="tag">water resources</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-shortage/" rel="tag">water shortage</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>BAGHDAD, 29 April 2010 (<a title="IRIN" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88960" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN</a>) – Iraq is planning to import 80 percent of its wheat and rice requirements in 2010, according to Hussein Ghazy, a spokesman of the state-owned Grains Company affiliated to the Trade Ministry. </p> <p>Trade Ministry figures show Iraq imported 3.55 million tons of wheat and 1.17 million tons of rice last year – up from 2.54 million and 610,000 tons respectively in 2008. </p> <p>Rising imports are being triggered by the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=85925" class="external" target="_blank">low water levels in the Euphrates and the Tigris</a>, which is causing reduced production, said Aoun Thiab Abdullah, a senior official in the Water Resources Ministry. He warned Iraq could face another difficult agricultural season this summer. </p> <p>“The amount of water we receive from the Euphrates at the border with Syria is still low at about 250 cubic metres per second… As for the Tigris, we have seen a 50 percent drop in the flow rate from 1,680 cubic metres per second [in and prior to April 2003] to 836 cubic metres per second. He noted that reservoirs fed by the Tigris were at a reasonable level at present. </p> <p>However, the three biggest reservoirs fed by the Euphrates – Haditha Reservoir, Mosul Dam and Habaniyah Lake – have severe water shortages, he said. </p> <p>Because of water shortages and high levels of soil salinity, the government decided in 2009 to halve the area planted with rice, all of which is dependent on water from the Euphrates. </p> <p>“This situation worries us, especially as the summer season is coming and it could even affect the beginning of the next winter season, when the first irrigation [in October and November] is needed,” Abdullah said. </p> <h3>Weak agricultural sector </h3> <p>Most of Iraq – 78 percent – is not viable for agricultural use. Almost half of the remaining 9.5 million hectares is marginal land used mainly for seasonal grazing of goats and sheep, according to a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL32093.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">June 2004 report for the US Congress</a>. Agricultural output accounts for only about 4 percent of gross domestic product. </p> <p>Agriculture has been paralysed by decades of war and insecurity, underinvestment, and the unchecked cutting down of trees for firewood, which had worsened salinity and desertification. According to the Agriculture Ministry, salinity affects at least 40 percent of agricultural land, mainly in central and southern Iraq, while 40-50 percent of what was productive land in the 1970s has been affected by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=84142" class="external" target="_blank">desertification</a>. </p> <p>A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.faoiraq.org/images/word/Agriculture%20Overview%20Feb09.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">report</a> estimated that “one third of the Iraqi population resides in rural areas and depends upon agriculture for their livelihoods. However, this segment of the population suffers disproportionately from poverty and food insecurity as 69 percent of all Iraqis living in extreme poverty and food insecurity reside in rural areas.” </p> <p>FAO noted that Iraqi wheat farmers saw a 55 percent reduction in production during 2008 due to severe drought conditions, and dependence on imports is estimated to have risen in 2008 to 74 percent for wheat and 69 percent for all cereals. </p> <p>A joint report by FAO and the Inter-Agency Information and Analysis Unit (supported by major UN agencies and offices in Iraq) entitled <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ISFP/Iraq_Food_Prices-Final.pdf" class="external" target="_blank">Iraq Food Prices Analysis</a>, said food prices in Iraq had risen at a steeper rate than global food prices, largely because of an 800 percent rise in domestic fuel and electricity prices in 2004-2008. </p> <p>According to Mahdi Al-Qaisi, undersecretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Iraq produced 117,000 tons of rice and 1.281 million tons of wheat in the 2008-09 season. These figures are only for production communicated by farmers to the Trade Ministry, so they could be on the low side, al-Qaisi said. </p> <p>Total consumption of wheat in 2010 is expected to be 4.5 million tons, and rice 1.227 million tons, Grains Company spokesman Ghazy said.</p> <blockquote></blockquote> <p>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88960" class="external" target="_blank">IRIN Middle East | IRAQ: Domestic wheat, rice production in the doldrums | Middle East | Iraq | Economy Food Security | News Item</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-9488"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/03/31/red-cross-iraq-coping-with-violence-and-striving-to-earn-a-living/#respond" title="Comment on Red Cross Iraq: coping with violence and striving to earn a living">No Comments</a></span> Posted on March 31st, 2010 by Nur Hussein Ghazali</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2010/03/31/red-cross-iraq-coping-with-violence-and-striving-to-earn-a-living/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Red Cross Iraq: coping with violence and striving to earn a living">Red Cross Iraq: coping with violence and striving to earn a living</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/iraq/" title="View all posts in News" rel="category tag">News</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/1990-1991-gulf-war/" rel="tag">1990-1991 Gulf War</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/acts-of-violence/" rel="tag">acts of violence</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-machinery/" rel="tag">agricultural machinery</a>, <a 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salah/" rel="tag">Salah</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salah-al-din/" rel="tag">Salah al-Din</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sanitation/" rel="tag">sanitation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/saudi-arabia/" rel="tag">Saudi Arabia</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sewage/" rel="tag">sewage</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/social-welfare/" rel="tag">social welfare</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/students/" rel="tag">Students</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sulaimaniya/" rel="tag">Sulaimaniya</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/taji/" rel="tag">Taji</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tasfirat/" rel="tag">Tasfirat</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tasfirat-kirkuk/" rel="tag">Tasfirat Kirkuk</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/tripartite-commission/" rel="tag">Tripartite Commission</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d9%85%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d8%af%d8%b1%e2%80%8e/" rel="tag">مدينة الصدر‎</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/violence/" rel="tag">violence</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water/" rel="tag">Water</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-supply/" rel="tag">water supply</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-treatment/" rel="tag">water treatment</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/women-and-children/" rel="tag">Women and Children</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%87%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%b1/" rel="tag">جمعية الصليب والهلال الاحمر</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>The beginning of 2010 was marred by acts of violence that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, mainly in Baghdad, the central governorates and Najaf. In Mosul, families fled violence and sought refuge in safer areas. Although recent violence-related displacement has been sporadic, there remain some 2.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq who had to leave their homes over recent years in search of safety. </p> <p>Many Iraqis, especially those worst affected by the effects of the conflict and the ongoing violence, such as displaced, elderly and disabled people and women heading households, continued to struggle to feed their families. Their inability to buy enough of the essential goods they require remains a major concern. </p> <p>Agriculture, formerly an important part of the economy, has been declining for the past decade. Individuals who have lost agricultural machinery to damage, age or disrepair often cannot replace it owing to a lack of financial wherewithal. In addition, the water supply has been hard hit by a failure to properly maintain pumping stations and irrigation and distribution canals, by the unreliable electricity supply and by higher fuel costs. The massive increase in the price of seed and fertilizer, and cheap imports from neighbouring countries, also play a role in making farming difficult, if not impossible, in many parts of Iraq. Many farmers try to survive by cultivating smaller patches of land, but as they are forced to use low-quality supplies the result is often poor harvests. Others have migrated to cities in search of other ways of earning a living. </p> <p>The situation was exacerbated by the 2008 drought – the worst in the past 10 years – which had an especially severe impact on rain-fed agriculture in central, west-central and some northern parts of the country. In some areas, agricultural production was wiped out. After years of poor rainfalls, pastures were reduced and prices of fodder soared. According to an ICRC survey, breeders were forced to cut down their herds by more than 60 per cent in some parts of the country, which had a drastic effect on their livelihoods. "Before, we used to move to neighbouring districts. Now, everywhere is dry and we lost our crops and animals. How can we go on?," said one local farmer in Ninawa governorate. </p> <p>For households that have lost their main wage earner, the economic situation is especially hard to endure. Most people who went missing in connection with recent wars or the ongoing violence, and most people behind bars, are adult males – usually breadwinners. The women and children they left behind often became isolated and therefore extremely vulnerable, despite the strong cultural solidarity among Iraqis. </p> <p>The ICRC is helping the Iraqis who are worst off to cope with their hardships, and Iraqi communities to support themselves unaided. It is distributing seed and fertilizer, and fodder for livestock. In addition, it is vaccinating cattle and cleaning and improving irrigation canals. In 2009 alone, some 195,000 people benefited. </p> <p>In January and February 2010, according to the ICRC’s own independent assessment carried out by the organization’s staff all over Iraq, more than 20,000 people benefited from its humanitarian assistance:</p> <ul> <li>almost 15,500 displaced people (families headed by women) in Baghdad, Diyala, Salah Al-Din and Ninawa governorates were given monthly food parcels and hygiene items; </li> <li>around 5,400 people recently displaced from Mosul to Hamdanya and Tilkaif received emergency food parcels, rice and ready-to-eat meals; </li> <li>over 1,900 farmers in Diyala governorate received 491.5 metric tonnes of urea fertilizer to help them improve their harvest and make their farming sustainable; </li> <li>43 disabled people in Erbil, Dohuk, Sulaimaniya and Ninewa governorates benefited from micro-economic aid enabling them to start small businesses and regain economic self-sufficiency. </li> </ul> <p>The ICRC also endeavoured to respond to other needs of the Iraqi population in January and February. </p> <h3>Providing clean water and sanitation</h3> <p>Access to clean water remains inadequate in several parts of the country. Only 45 per cent of the population, on average, have clean drinking water and 20 per cent proper sewage disposal. ICRC water engineers continue to repair and upgrade water, electrical and sanitation facilities all over Iraq, especially in areas where violence remains a concern, to enhance access for civilians to clean water and to improve the quality of services provided in communities and health-care facilities. </p> <ul> <li>Baghdad governorate: Samadiya water compact unit for about 20,000 people, Al Mahmodiya General Hospital serving some 400,000 people living in the area, Ibn Al Khateeb Infectious Diseases Hospital, Medico Legal Institute, Tabat al Kurd water boosting station for over 3,500 people and Al Mada’in water treatment plant for 470,000 people (including displaced people) plus three hospitals and eight primary health-care centres. </li> <li>Anbar governorate: Heet water treatment plant for 45,000 residents and 250 displaced people, Habbaniya water treatment plant for 30,000 residents and 1,500 displaced people, and Al Qaim Hospital providing health care for around 350,000 area inhabitants. </li> <li>Salah Al Din governorate: al Dor clinic and Dijail compact unit supplying water to almost 25,000 people. </li> </ul> <p>Other water-related works were carried out that will benefit nearly 100,000 people in Missan, Diwaniya and Diyala governorates, and in Ninawa governorate where 3,000 inmates held at Badoosh prison will be among those benefiting. </p> <p>Water was delivered by truck to: </p> <ul> <li>4,500 displaced people in Sadr City and 340 in Husseinia and Ma’amil, and in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, all in Baghdad governorate; </li> <li>Qalawa Quarter camp in Sulaimaniya, hosting around 360 displaced people. Two damaged tanks of 5,000 litres each have been replaced. </li> </ul> <h3>Assisting hospitals and physical rehabilitation centres</h3> <p>Health-care services are still inadequate. In some areas, it is difficult to reach health facilities because of the prevailing lack of security. Iraqi health facilities still benefit from ICRC support. Limb-fitting and physical rehabilitation services are provided by the ICRC to help disabled people reintegrate into the community. In January and February: </p> <ul> <li>12 hospitals and three primary health-care centres received medical supplies and equipment; </li> <li>34 doctors and nurses successfully took part in a training course on strengthening emergency services given in Sulaimaniya Emergency Hospital and in Al Sadr Teaching Hospital in Najaf; </li> <li>26 managers working in the field of primary health care in Ninawa, Kirkuk, Erbil and Diyala governorates participated in a forum, held in Erbil, on improving the quality of health care services in rural primary health-care centres; </li> <li>two physiotherapists from Najaf, two from Hilla, one from Sulaimaniya and one from Erbil attended a three-week training course in Erbil, where the ICRC runs a physical rehabilitation centre. </li> </ul> <h3>Visiting detainees</h3> <p>Visiting detainees remains a top priority for the ICRC in Iraq. In January and February, ICRC delegates visited detainees held: </p> <ul> <li>in Fort Suse Federal Prison, Sulaimaniya governorate; in Nasiriya Prison, Thi-Qar governorate; in Mina and Maaqal prisons, Basra governorate; </li> <li>in Tasfirat Kirkuk, Emergency Police Station and Juvenile Police Centre; in Assayesh KDP Station, Kirkuk governorate; </li> <li>in Brigade 54, 6th Division, Baghdad governorate; </li> <li>in six prisons and two police stations in Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaimaniya governorates; </li> <li>in Camp Taji (US custody), Baghdad governorate. This was the last visit to the detention facility prior to its handover to Iraqi authorities. </li> </ul> <p>Around 5,200 detainees held in Fort Suse, Chamchamal, Khademiya, Adhala and Amarah prisons received blankets, mattresses and clothes to help them cope with the cold winter season. In Chamchamal Federal Prison, 34 disabled detainees were given crutches as part of a follow-up carried out by ICRC health delegates of health care in the prison. </p> <p>More than 7,800 Red Cross messages were exchanged between detainees and their families in January and February. In addition, 626 detention certificates were issued to former detainees or internees to make them eligible for social welfare benefits. </p> <h3>Clarifying what happened to missing people</h3> <p>The ICRC supports the authorities in their efforts to clarify what happened to those who went missing in connection with the Iran-Iraq War and the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It also helps train forensic professionals in the identification and management of mortal remains and regularly supplies equipment. In January and February: </p> <ul> <li>the mortal remains of nine Iranian soldiers were repatriated from Iraq under ICRC auspices; </li> <li>the Technical Sub-Committee of the Tripartite Commission, handling cases of persons missing in connection with the 1990-1991 Gulf War, held its 63rd session in Kuwait, which was chaired by the ICRC and attended by representatives from Iraq, Kuwait and the 1990-1991 Coalition (the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Saudi Arabia); </li> <li>two days of training by an ICRC forensic specialist were provided for staff of Al Zubair centre to help them better manage the files of thousands of missing persons. </li> </ul> <h3>Promoting international humanitarian law</h3> <p>Reminding parties to a conflict of their obligation to protect civilians is a fundamental part of the ICRC’s work. The organization also endeavours to promote international humanitarian law within the civil society. In this framework, a series of presentations were organized for various audiences, which included military personnel, prison staff, students and professors </p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/iraq-update-300309" class="external" target="_blank">Iraq: coping with violence and striving to earn a living</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-8071"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2009/12/26/farmers-hit-hard-times/#respond" title="Comment on Farmers Hit Hard Times">No Comments</a></span> Posted on December 26th, 2009 by Editors</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2009/12/26/farmers-hit-hard-times/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Farmers Hit Hard Times">Farmers Hit Hard Times</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-organisation/" rel="tag">agricultural organisation</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-products/" rel="tag">agricultural products</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agricultural-sector/" rel="tag">agricultural sector</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture/" rel="tag">Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-ministry/" rel="tag">agriculture ministry</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/displacement/" rel="tag">displacement</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/domestic-agriculture/" rel="tag">domestic agriculture</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/drought/" rel="tag">drought</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/fao-un/" rel="tag">FAO (UN)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/fertile-crescent/" rel="tag">Fertile Crescent</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/fruit-and-vegetables/" rel="tag">fruit and vegetables</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/fruits-and-vegetables/" rel="tag">fruits and vegetables</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iran/" rel="tag">Iran</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iwpr/" rel="tag">IWPR</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/political-instability/" rel="tag">political instability</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/produce-market/" rel="tag">produce market</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/sulaimaniyah/" rel="tag">sulaimaniyah</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/syria/" rel="tag">Syria</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/turkey/" rel="tag">Turkey</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water/" rel="tag">Water</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <div style="border-right: lightgrey 1px solid; padding-right: 5px; border-top: lightgrey 1px solid; padding-left: 5px; float: right; padding-bottom: 5px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; border-left: lightgrey 1px solid; width: 360px; padding-top: 5px; border-bottom: lightgrey 1px solid"> <p>With markets flooded with imports, many fear for domestic agriculture. </p> <p>By Faleh Hasan in Baghdad and Abdul Hamid Zebari in Erbil (ICR No. 317, 24-Dec-09) </p> <p>Faleh Hasan and Abdul Hamid Zebari are <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.iwpr.net/" target="_blank" class="external">IWPR</a>-trained journalists in Baghdad and Erbil. IWPR-trained journalist Basim al-Shara contributed to this report from Baghdad. </p> </p></div> <p>A shortage of domestic fruit and vegetables is being felt in bazaars across Iraq, with families groaning about rising prices and perplexed by an unfamiliar array of produce grown abroad. </p> <p>"All the fruits and vegetables we sell now are imported, except for a few vegetables like celery and spring onion, which we still have to import in some seasons," said Saed Abdullah, 47, a long-time grocer in Erbil’s Shekhalla bazaar. </p> <p>"Now when you walk through the produce market you see items which before you could only see on TV," he added. </p> <p>Iraq imports more than 80 per cent of its food, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO. Economists and consumers are alarmed by the trend, fearing agriculture may disappear in a country once known as the heart of the Fertile Crescent. </p> <p>The FAO describes the Iraqi agricultural sector as "under-performing drastically" due to political instability, war, poor infrastructure and years of grinding drought. </p> <p>"The main problem is that Iraq is still a war-torn country. It hasn’t created a policy to develop agriculture, so that [Iraq] can once again become a producer rather than a consumer," said Mohammad Amin Alim, a professor of agriculture at Sulaimaniyah University. </p> <p>As Iraqi agriculture declines, local grocers have been forced to purchase imported produce from neighbouring countries and agricultural powerhouses such as Asia. </p> <p>The problem is not lost on the agriculture ministry, which in March banned the import of some foods in an effort to support local farmers. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mahdi al-Qaisi said that the government is also providing farmers with loans and allowing them to pay for equipment in instalments. </p> <p>In markets, however, citizens complain about the lack of Iraqi products, noting that Iraq was once a major exporter of food staples such as wheat. </p> <p>“Every morning I go to the Al-Aalwa grocery market in Jamila neighborhood in Baghdad. Three-fourths of the vegetables are imported. Vegetables are constantly imported from Syria, Jordan, and Iran, and currently some fruits from Turkey," said Alaa Minati, 30, a grocer in the Zaafaraniyah area of south Baghdad. </p> <p>Minati told IWPR that Iraqi farmers blame the high cost of fertilisers, transportation, fuel and the lack of water for increasing the price of the small amount Iraqi produce that does find its way to the bazaar. </p> <p>Minati said Iraqi produce is not always cheaper than the imports but in Aalwa there is a higher demand for the former because it is tastier. </p> <p>The lack of locally grown fruits, vegetables and grains has had a drastic effect on traditional Iraqi households which typically bought seasonal produce and adjusted their diets accordingly. </p> <p>"In the past, we would help our mothers in drying some types of vegetables that were cheap in summer to store them for winter. Now we do not dry them because they are available at markets during all the four seasons of the year, but their high prices are killing us,” said Sabiha Mohammed, a 44-year-old housewife in Baghdad. </p> <p>Agriculture is said to make up just five per cent of Iraq’s gross domestic product. Experts believe the decline in farming has made rural Iraqis more vulnerable to internal displacement as they flock to cities in search of new livelihoods. </p> <p>In the mountains north of Erbil, village chief Farez Abdulrahman explains that lack of water and changing social trends have affected the livelihood of his small farming hamlet of Shekh Mamudian. </p> <p>"Our village used to grow tobacco, onions and rice. No one would buy agricultural products that came from cities. It was the villages which used to send their products to [nearby] cities," he told IWPR. "When the village well ran dry last summer, we could no longer do farming or raise livestock." </p> <p>For many Iraqis, agriculture is still an emotive issue, drawing on nationalism and hard-won historic pride. Some recall that less than 30 years ago, Iraq was a major grain exporter. </p> <p>"Imported products are more expensive than local ones, but ours are better. For instance, Iraqi orange is tastier, and it doesn’t go mouldy for a long time. This applies to tangerines, too. Local products are also more resistant while in storage," said Abu Hussein, 50, a Baghdad grocer. "All in all, local products are better and cheaper, but they are hard to find now." </p> <p>But not all Iraqis care about buying local. </p> <p>“The availability of different types of fruits has affected our taste," said Nariman Karim, a 42-year-old Erbil resident. "In the past, we would impatiently wait for the start of a particular season along with its fruits and vegetables. But now, everything is available and I have the option to buy products in any season.” </p> <p>Mohammed Salman, an economic analyst and head of the economics department at Salahaddin University in Erbil, believes that market forces will determine the future of Iraqi agriculture. </p> <p>"This phenomenon of importing fruits and vegetable will lead to a decrease in local production and farmers will find other ways to survive," Salman said. </p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.iwpr.net/?p=icr&s=f&o=358646&apc_state=henpicr" class="external" target="_blank">Farmers Hit Hard Times</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="post clearfix" id="post-7687"> <div class="postmetadata"><span class="comments"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2009/11/09/iraq-says-negotiations-with-iran-over-water-supplies-futile/#respond" title="Comment on Iraq says negotiations with Iran over water supplies futile">No Comments</a></span> Posted on November 9th, 2009 by Editors</div> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/2009/11/09/iraq-says-negotiations-with-iran-over-water-supplies-futile/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Iraq says negotiations with Iran over water supplies futile">Iraq says negotiations with Iran over water supplies futile</a></h3> <p class="postmetadata">Category: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/category/english-articles/" title="View all posts in English Language Articles" rel="category tag">English Language Articles</a>, Tags: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/" rel="tag">Agriculture decline of</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/basra/" rel="tag">Basra</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/desalination-plants/" rel="tag">desalination plants</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/drought/" rel="tag">drought</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iran/" rel="tag">Iran</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/iranirak-relations/" rel="tag">Iran/Irak relations</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/salinity-excessive/" rel="tag">Salinity - excessive</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/shat-al-arab/" rel="tag">Shat al-Arab</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-crisis-iraq/" rel="tag">Water Crisis (Iraq)</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/water-scarcity/" rel="tag">water scarcity</a></p> <div class="entry" dir="rtl" align="right"> <p>Iran and Iraq have failed to reach agreement on water sharing, a senior official in the Iraqi Province of Basra said. </p> <p>Jaber Ameen, the chairman of Basra’s provincial council, said Iraq “will have to rely on its own resources and capabilities” to solve its water shortages. </p> <p>Water is in short supply for both agriculture and drinking. </p> <p>Basra and its once fertile plateau dotted with palm-tree groves suffer most in the country due to rising salinity levels in the Shatt al-Arab Waterway. </p> <p>“States look after their own interests even if their realization is at the expense of another people,” Ameen said. “Iran has interests and wants to have them realized even though their realization causes harm to Basra.” </p> <p>Ameen’s statement signals the frustration of Basra authorities with neighboring Iran which had promised to at least meet the city’s drinking water needs. </p> <p>Ameen urged the government to build a dam over the Shatt al-Arab Waterway to prevent fresh water discharging into the sea. </p> <p>He also urged the construction of desalination plants such those in the oil-rich Arab Gulf states.</p> <p><strong>Source:</strong> <a title="Iraq says negotiations with Iran over water supplies futile" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news�9-11-09kurd.htm" class="external" target="_blank">Iraq says negotiations with Iran over water supplies futile</a> By Abed Battat <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?code=ennewsen" target="_blank" class="external">Azzaman in English</a></p> </div> </div> <hr/> <div class="navigation"> <div class="alignleft"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130205181046/http://gorillasguides.com/tag/agriculture-decline-of/page/2/">« Previous Entries</a></div> <div class="alignright"></div> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar" class="span-10 last"> <div class="span-10" id="tabs"> <ul> <li class="ui-tabs-nav-item"><a 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