FAO and MOE are developing the National Strategy for Sustainable Land Management in Iraq

The meeting, chaired by Dr Jassim Al-Falahi, Technical Deputy of the MoE and Dr. Salah ElHajj Hassan, FAO Country Representative in Iraq, focused on the project implementation progress, challenges and suggested solutions to strengthen collaboration on promoting conservation agriculture and agroecological practices in ThiQar and Al Muthanna governorates.

The project outcomes yet included drafting the national SLM strategy, inclusive of a Marshland Conservation Action Plan, and finalizing the natural resources Knowledge Management Platform for Iraq, in addition to train 121 officials (31% females) from MoA, MoE and MoW on SLM policy making and 1500 farmers (21 % women) on Conservation Agriculture. 

Presented results showed an increase of 20-25% in crop yield of wheat and barley productivity as a result of adopting of conservation agriculture practices, demonstrating the significant benefits of conservation agriculture in sustainable land management. 

Next steps include finalizing the national SLM and marshland conservation Strategy for Iraq in cooperation with MoE, train 40 MoA Extension Officers in Agroecology and Marshland Conservation, and establish Farmer Field School Demonstration plots under Agroecology practice across Thi Qar and Al-Muthanna governorates, in addition to training 1000 farmers  on promoting Agroecology practices of SLM.

Dr. Jassim Al-Falahi, the Technical Deputy Minister of Environment, emphasized the importance of the partnership with FAO Iraq, stating that, "The environmental challenges facing Iraq due to climate change induced water scarcity, drought, desertification and land degradation. The Technical Department at the MoE is partnering with international organizations like FAO, to improve land management and insure sustainability. We value the collaboration with FAO Iraq, and the project's role in enhancing our efforts."

"The successful outcome of the recent harvest from Farmer Field School Demonstration plots underscores the effectiveness of Conservation Agriculture practices in enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable land management," said Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassa, FAO Iraq Representative. "We are committed to continuing our collaboration with the Iraqi Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Water Resources, local governments in Thi Qar and Muthana and other partners to further promote sustainable agriculture practices and improve livelihoods."

This project aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). By promoting sustainable land management practices, that will be enhancing local communities resilience and contributing to global environmental benefits.