PM Masrour Barzani supervises first meeting of High Agricultural Board

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani chaired the first meeting of the High Agricultural Board on Thursday in which he insisted that the agricultural sector is crucial and has to be taken advantage of in the best possible way.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani chaired the first meeting of the High Agricultural Board on Thursday in which he insisted that the agricultural sector is crucial and has to be taken advantage of in the best possible way.

The meeting is the first of its kind following the establishment of the board in late May. The Board was created to draft plans for agricultural development in the Kurdistan Region. In early May, the Kurdistan Region’s Board of Investment announced an ambitious investment plan in which it contained over 100 agricultural projects.

Read More: KRG announces major investment plan as economic challenges loom

“Prime Minister Barzani stressed the importance of agriculture as an alternative source of revenue through the protection of domestic products; support for farmers, and sourcing markets for their harvest,” a statement from the prime minister’s office read.

The members of the Board include Prime Minister Barzani and his Deputy Qubad Talabani, along with the ministers of agriculture, finance, trade and industry, the Council of Minister’s Chief of Staff, and head of investment board.   

The KRG Agriculture and Water Resources Minister, Begard Talabani, presented a detailed report on the plans and strategy of her ministry for agricultural development, including the project of wheat marketing of the region’s farmers, the statement added.

In early May, the KRG announced plans to support the growth of greenhouses, to develop infrastructure on farming and other food-production, and increase tariffs charged on imported agricultural goods as part of efforts to make the Kurdistan Region more self-sustainable. 

Read More: Kurdistan Region to boost agriculture for increased self-sustainability

A delegation led by Begard Talabani met in early February with an Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad to discuss a range of files including the compensation of Kurdish farmers for grain delivered to the central government.

Read More: KRG, Iraq agricultural ministries form committee for strategic cooperation to advance sector

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany