Iraq's Agriculture: Background and Status (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
May 13, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RS21516 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Randy Schnepf, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Iraq's agricultural sector represents a small, but vital component of Iraq's economy. Over the past
several decades agriculture's role in the economy has been heavily influenced by Iraq's involvement
in military conflicts, particularly the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War and the 1991 Gulf War, and by varying
degrees of government efforts to promote and/or control agricultural production. In the mid-1980s,
agriculture accounted for only about 14% of the national GDP. After the imposition of U.N.
sanctions and the Iraqi government's non-compliance with a proposed U.N. Oil-for-Food program
in 1991, agriculture's share of GDP is estimated to have risen to 35% by 1992.
(1)
Rapid population growth during the past three decades, coupled with limited arable land and
a general stagnation in agricultural productivity, has steadily increased dependence on imports to
meet domestic food needs since the mid-1960s. By 1980 Iraq was importing about half of its food
supply. By 2002, between 80% and 100% of many basic staples -- wheat, rice, sugar, vegetable oil,
and protein meals -- were imported.
This report will be updated if events warrant.
1. Â Ahmad, Mahmood. "Agricultural Policy Issues and
Challenges in Iraq" Short- and Medium-term Options,"
from Iraq's Economic Predicament , Kamil Mahdi, Editor. Exeter Arab and Islamic
Studies Series, Ithaca
Press, copyright©Kamil Mahdi, 2002, pp. 179-180.
