The FAO Pavilion Receives an Overwhelmingly Positive Response at the First Agriculture, Food, Water, and Livestock Exhibition

The exhibition, was hosted at the halls of Mosul University's Faculty of Physical Education. The exhibition was officially inaugurated by HE the Minister of Agriculture Abbas Jabr Al-Alaywi, the Governor of Nineveh Najm Al-Jubouri and a number of deputies of the Nineveh Governorate, in the presence of the Director of Agriculture of Nineveh Dr Rabie Youssef Soran.

All participants praised the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) stand, especially the products presented by Nineveh dairy women farmers supported by the project "Support to agricultural livelihoods of rural and peri-urban returnees and communities in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq", funded by the European Union and implemented by FAO in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture through the staff of Nineveh Extension officers.

Success stories of project beneficiaries were also shared with the participants. In addition, different types of these products were presented to the participants: milk, cheese, Qechwa and Qimar.

The Minister of Agriculture expressed his appreciation for the high quality of the showcased products, and this is a testament to the success of the project in encouraging the development of local products that are now on a par with imported counterparts

.It is worth noting that the Project activities in developing only the livestock value chain has reached more than 20,000 thousands of farmers, mostly women.

Dr. Chedly Kayouli, FAO livestock expert, played a pivotal role in overseeing the implementation of innovative techniques, training, and capacity building. He emphasized the transformative impact of these interventions, stating, "Through these innovative approaches, we have empowered women farmers, enhanced their livestock husbandry, improved milk processing, and strengthened marketing skills. This holistic approach not only significantly improves livelihoods but also contributes to sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on empowering women throughout the agricultural value chain."

 In light of this achievement, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken on the responsibility of extending the project's implementation to the governorates of southern Iraq, with the aim of driving agricultural progress and improving the overall agricultural landscape.

In this regard, the Director of Agriculture in Nineveh, Dr Rabie Youssef Soran, highlighted the remarkable achievements of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project in Nineveh. The success of the project can be seen through various interventions that have had a significant impact. In particular, the project has supported milk collection and processing centres by equipping them with state-of-the-art international equipment. In addition, modern agricultural technologies, such as green fodder cultivation, have been widely adopted by livestock farmers in the districts and sub-districts of Nineveh. These advances have contributed greatly to the agricultural landscape of the region.

On the other hand, Engineer Haider Nasr, the coordinator between FAO and Nineveh Agriculture Directorate, pointed out the importance of such projects to develop the agricultural reality, both in its plant and animal parts.The FAO project in Nineveh has provided the beneficiaries of the project with all modern technologies, such as nutritional supplements like molasses, which has led to an increase in the quantity and quality of milk. Milk collection and processing centres have been set up, equipped with refrigerators to preserve the milk spoiled by the high temperatures in summer, while the manufacturer or producer can now buy milk, store it easily and produce it whenever he wants.

It is worth noting that the project  has continued to provide support to returnees, particularly to women's groups in all districts and sub-districts. These women's gatherings have become a focal point for rural women's aspirations due to the importance of what the project has provided to them.

Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, the FAO representative, highlighted the valuable cooperation and funding provided by the European Union, stating, "We are proud of the strong partnership between FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture, supported by the European Union. This collaboration has been instrumental in implementing this successful project, which has significantly improved the livelihoods of farmers in Nineveh Governorate. We are committed to continuing our support to the agricultural sector in Iraq and replicating this experience in other regions, aiming to drive sustainable development and ensure food security."

With the unwavering support of international collaborations and the dedication of local stakeholders, the agricultural landscape in Nineveh Governorate is steadily transforming, empowering farmers and contributing to the sustainable growth of the region.