Iraq is among the top 30 in the world in olive cultivation

Baghdad - INA

The Ministry of Agriculture announced today, Wednesday, the distribution of olive seedlings free of charge to government departments, and while indicating that Iraq is among the top 30 in the world in olive cultivation, it confirmed the trend towards increasing the varieties that are compatible with the Iraqi environment with high productivity.

The administrative undersecretary of the ministry, Mahdi Sahar, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The ministry is working to produce industrial crops that preserve the environment and great interest through the Horticulture Department in establishing a national program to multiply types and varieties of fruits and olives."

He added, "The program focuses on developing olives through high-oil olive varieties, varieties used as food, and dual-purpose varieties," explaining that "the program includes training and guidance courses for farmers and distributing various olive seedlings through the horticulture stations in the governorates to government departments as a gift."

The administrative agent of the ministry stated that "the interest in olive production came due to its importance, especially since Iraq ranks ninth in the Arab world in terms of production, and among the top thirty in the world." Sahar concluded that "the current trend of the Ministry of Agriculture is towards increasing the cultivation of varieties that are compatible with the Iraqi environment with high productivity in oil and dual-purpose table oil."