Iraq launches the implementation of FAO’s global OCOP initiative for sustainable date palm development

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Iraq and with the support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, concluded the Inception Workshop for the Global One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative on the Sustainable Development of Date Palm in Iraq, held from 27 to 29 January 2026 in Baghdad.

The workshop marked the official launch of OCOP implementation in Iraq, with date palm selected as the country’s priority agricultural product under the global OCOP initiative. The event brought together representatives from Iraqi national institutions, FAO headquarters, the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Regional Office, international partners, private sector actors and key stakeholders from across the date palm value chain.

Launched globally by the FAO Director-General in 2021, the OCOP initiative promotes the sustainable development of special agricultural products by supporting inclusive, resilient and market-oriented value chains. The initiative contributes to FAO’s vision of achieving the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

Iraq has been selected as one of 15 global OCOP demonstration countries under the FAO–China South–South Cooperation (SSC) Programme, representing the NENA region and contributing to regional knowledge exchange and experience-sharing on sustainable value chain development.

In this context, Dr. Hadi Hashem, Director General of the Mesopotamia General Company for Seeds and the designated coordinator of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative for FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture of Iraq, emphasized that: “The Government of the Republic of Iraq attaches great importance to the development of the date palm sector as a strategic pillar of food security, rural employment, and national identity. Through the OCOP initiative and our partnership with FAO, we seek to strengthen sustainable production, improve quality and value addition, and enhance the competitiveness of Iraqi dates in domestic and international markets.”

Historically known as one of the world’s leading producers of dates, Iraq’s date palm sector remains a cornerstone of national food security, rural livelihoods and cultural heritage. At the same time, the sector has been facing challenges related to production practices. The OCOP initiative aims to address these challenges by promoting sustainable production systems, value addition, innovation, and improved market linkages.

Dr. Abdulhakim ElWaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for the Near East and North Africa, commended Iraq’s adoption of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, describing it as a forward-looking strategic pathway that reflects the central role of agriculture as an integral part of Iraq’s heritage, identity, and resilience, despite growing challenges related to climate change, water scarcity, and land degradation.

It was further emphasized that the selection of date palm as Iraq’s national priority product holds significant potential to strengthen value chains, conserve agrobiodiversity, and empower women and youth, within a framework that contributes to the achievement of FAO’s Four Betters—better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life—supported by strong partnerships to translate this vision into tangible outcomes and build a more sustainable rural future.

“The One Country One Priority Product global initiative reflects FAO’s commitment to supporting Iraq in unlocking the full potential of its agricultural heritage through modern, sustainable and market-oriented approaches,” said FAO Representative in Iraq, Dr. Salah ElHajj Hassan. “Over the past years, FAO Iraq has worked closely with the Government of Iraq and partners to support the development of the date palm value chain, from production to processing and market access. By selecting date palm as Iraq’s priority product under OCOP, we are investing not only in a crop, but in livelihoods, cultural identity and inclusive economic growth, while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of the sector along the entire value chain.”

During the three-day workshop, participants exchanged global, regional and national experiences in OCOP implementation and convened the first meeting of the OCOP National Task Force. Technical sessions addressed sustainable date palm production, plant protection, post-harvest loss reduction, market intelligence and trade opportunities, drawing on experiences from Iraq, the NENA region, China and other OCOP countries.

As part of the programme, participants also undertook a field visit to selected date palm production and processing sites, including Al-Rabee Date Palm Station in Al-Zaafaraniya and Al-Sifat Dates Processing Factory in Dora, providing first-hand insights into practical challenges and opportunities along the value chain.

“Iraq’s selection as a global OCOP demonstration country underscores the strategic importance of its date palm sector and its potential to drive sustainable agrifood transformation,” said Mr Yurdi Yasmi, Director, Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), FAO. “The experience generated through OCOP implementation in Iraq will contribute valuable lessons at both regional and global levels, strengthening South–South cooperation and knowledge exchange among participating countries.”

The workshop concluded with discussions on a national OCOP work plan for the period 2025–2027, identifying priority actions to support sustainable development of the date palm value chain, enhance coordination among stakeholders and strengthen partnerships across the public and private sectors.