Press Release

Validation Training: FAO training workshop on Water Productivity in Iraq

10 August 2023

Baghdad, 30 July 2023 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has taken a giant leap towards sustainable water management and agricultural efficiency with its recent two-day training on WaPOR Data Validation. This event, held on the 26th and 27th of July 2023, marks a significant milestone in Iraq's journey towards optimizing water resources through the innovative use of remote sensing technology.

WaPOR, short for Water Productivity Open-access portal, has emerged as a beacon of hope for agricultural communities across Africa and the Near East, and now its transformative potential is taking root in Iraq. By harnessing the power of remote sensing technologies, WaPOR empowers nations to monitor and enhance their agricultural water productivity, ensuring a greener and more food-secure future.

The Netherlands funded project, "Monitoring Land and Water Productivity by Remote Sensing WaPOR Phase II in Iraq," is playing a pivotal role in fostering water management in Iraq. The recent training event, delivered by the esteemed partners from IHE Delft with support from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), represents a remarkable convergence of expertise and innovation. Representatives from key ministries, including Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Environment, the KRG's Ministry of Agriculture &Water Resources, and other WaPOR stakeholders like the universities of Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, actively participated in the training.

The training aimed to enhance the technical expertise of project stakeholders, validate WaPOR portal remote sensing data and compare it with local data through practical exercises, and establish a clear training plan for 2024 at the country level. Additionally, participants actively discussed the critical need for coordination among beneficiaries and stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of project activities. This valuable exercise allowed participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the power and accuracy of WaPOR's remote sensing capabilities in conjunction with locally collected data.

Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, the FAO Representative in Iraq, inaugurated the training and emphasized the significance of the WaPOR project in the country. He stated, "water scarcity poses challenges in various areas in Iraq. The WaPOR project is a valuable tool that aids in addressing water use efficiency by monitoring irrigation systems' performance and groundwater abstractions. It assesses the functioning, adequacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of water resource allocation to agricultural lands, thereby supporting food security and nutrition in Iraq."

In recognition of their efforts and successful completion of the WaPOR data validation exercises, participants received certificates from the IHE Delft Institute.

FAO Iraq commends the commitment and active participation of all stakeholders and partners in Iraq in their pursuit of sustainable water resource management and food security. The organization remains dedicated to supporting Iraq in achieving its goals and enhancing agricultural productivity through innovative initiatives like the WaPOR project.

Khawla Ben Aicha

FAO

Communications Specialist

khawla.benaicha@fao.org

Salah Elhajjhassan

FAO

Representative

salah.elhajjhassan@fao.org

Mr Hajj Hassan, a national of Lebanon, holds a Ph.D. in Plant Production from the University of Agriculture, Damascus, Syria; a Master of Science degree in Plant Production and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering, both from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
He started his career in 1984, as Senior Research Assistant in the Agricultural Research and Education Centre (AREC), American University of Beirut. From 1987 to 1991, he was Coordinator of the Student Training Programme, and also Agriculture and Horticultural Teacher for the Faculty of Agriculture, at the Lebanese University.
From 1991 to 1995, he worked as Agricultural Engineer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Bekaa Regional Office, Zahlah and was then assigned to the Agricultural Research Institute in the Tal Amara station, first as Head of the Crop Production Department and subsequently in charge of the Plant Protection Laboratory. From 2002 to 2006, he was Director of the Kfardane Research Station (Agricultural Research Institute). In 2008, he became Visiting Scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Coordinator of a project with the International Centre for Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
In 2010, he served as Advisor to the Minister for Agriculture of Lebanon. In 2011, he became President of the Pesticide Scientific Committee, Head of the Phytoplasma Committee and Director of the Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (ARDP) (EU-funded project). From 2010 to 2013, he represented Lebanon in negotiations with EU, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. During his career, Mr Hajj Hassan also carried out a number of other functions. He represented the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) in several research programmes with the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the American University of Beirut. He was Coordinator of the Mashreq/Maghreb project with ICARDA, representing Lebanon in the Steering Committee, as well as being the Head of the Sugar-beet Delivery and of the Wheat Delivery Committees. For a number of years, Mr Hajj Hassan worked for the preparation of FAO TCP projects and served as the National Director of a TCP project. He joined FAO in January 2014 as FAO Representative in Yemen. Mr Hajj Hassan succeeds Mr El Zubi as FAO Representative in Iraq.

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