Overall Information

The ministry is responsible for providing agricultural inputs and services to farmers. According to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, there are more than 600,000 farmers in Iraq. There are both individual and family farms (mostly in the south) as well as large plantations (mostly in the north). From 1988 to 1993 the ministry of Agriculture was combined with the Ministry of Irrigation. The MoA is very production oriented.

Facts on the Irrigation Ministry

A return of law enforcement in Iraq has been one of the top ORHA priorities after initial looting throughout Iraq. Gen. Jay Garner made an announcement over Baghdad radio for all policemen to return to duty on May 4. This does not mean they will begin patrolling the streets on May 4, and some of the issues that remain are:

-The ministry employs more than 13,000 people
-There are 15 companies with the MOA.
-Ministry buildings were burned and looted.
-Major crops are wheat and barley.
-Loss of inputs and infrastructure nationwide remains a major problem to reestablishing support for farmers.