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Iraq

FAO uses drones and climate-smart agriculture applications in rice fields [EN/AR]

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Najaf, September 8, 2024

With the aim of spreading and implementing climate-smart agricultural practices in rice cultivation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in cooperation with the Najaf Agriculture Directorate and with support from the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Najaf Governorate Council, implemented a field activity to spray foliar fertilizer using drones in rice fields planted using mechanical transplanting in AlMashkhab/District 32 Umm Khashm.

This filed activity is part of the project “Enhance climate resilience of vulnerable agriculture households in Southern Iraq through the promotion of climate smart water management and good agriculture practices in selected value chains" funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The project aims to rationalize water use and improve productivity to adapt to conditions of water scarcity and climate change.

The event was attended by Dr. Salah ElHajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq, Dr. Hadi AlYasiri, Director General of the Horticulture Department, Mr. Munir Ali, Director of the Agricultural Extension and Cooperation Department, Mr. Munim??, Director of Najaf Agriculture, Mr. Farouk Al-Ghazali, Chairman of the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee in the Najaf Governorate Council, Eng. Mohammed Abdullah Mahmoud, Deputy Director General of the Operations Authority at the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Raed Abdullah, Deputy Director of the Water Resources Directorate in Najaf, the Najaf Agriculture Directorate team and a number of rice farmers in the region.

In this context, Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan stated, “The FAO efforts are continuing, in cooperation with the Najaf Agriculture Directorate, the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources, and the local government to develop the rice production chain using climate-smart agriculture applications to confront the challenges of climate change and water scarcity. “Fertilizers are now being used by drones to reduce production costs and pollution, leading to increased production” he added.

The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture said, “This event aims to introduce the advantages of using foliar fertilizers, reduce production costs, and reduce pollution by completing the implementation of climate-smart applications in cooperation with FAO, which provides great support to the agricultural sector in Iraq in order to face the challenges of water scarcity and climate change.”

FAO recently organized a field event for rice planting using a package of technologies including mechanical transplanting in Al-Mishkhab district, which contributes significantly to saving water and agricultural inputs such as seeds, pesticides and labor costs, in addition to reducing pollution.

This initiative supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2: Zero Hunger, by enhancing food production efficiency; SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, through the sustainable use of water resources; and SDG 13: Climate Action, by promoting practices that help farmers adapt to climate change impacts.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Salah Elhaj Hassan, FAO Representative: salah.elhajjhassan@fao.org

Mohamed Ali Moussa, Communications Specialist: mohamedali.moussa@fao.org