MOA: Granting the private sector the process of purchasing, marketing and exporting dates

Baghdad-INA

The Ministry of Agriculture expected, today, Saturday, an increase in the production of dates for the current season in the country, while identifying the entities responsible for export operations.

Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mahdi Al-Qaisi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The Ministry expects development and an increase in quantity and quality in the production of dates for the current season, for several reasons, including those related to combating agricultural pests before the season in the issue of dobas and hamira, as well as palm stem borers.”.

He added, "The Ministry granted the private sector the responsibility of purchasing, marketing, and exporting dates from orchard owners, and setting prices in the markets," pointing out that "the process of exporting dates is carried out by granting a license to merchants by the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the process of fumigating the dates." “As it is binding under international phytosanitary laws as an official body that supervises the fumigation process and exports it free of insects and diseases.”.

He pointed out that "the Agricultural Protection Department in the Ministry is the one that adopts the fumigation process and issues the healthy plant certificate, which is internationally approved with regard to dates."