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From Producers to Consumers: The Challenges and Opportunities of Agricultural Development in Iraqi Kurdistan

Author

Listed:
  • Lina Eklund

    (Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden)

  • Abdulhakim Abdi

    (Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden)

  • Mine Islar

    (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden)

Abstract
Agriculture and rural life in the Middle East have gone through several changes in the past few decades. The region is characterized by high population growth, urbanization, and water scarcity, which poses a challenge to maintaining food security and production. This paper investigates agricultural and rural challenges in the Duhok governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan from biophysical, political, and socio-economic perspectives. Satellite data is used to study land use and productivity, while a review of government policies and interview data show the perspectives of the government and the local population. Our results reveal that these perspectives are not necessarily in line with each other, nor do they correspond well with the biophysical possibilities. While the government has been trying to increase agricultural productivity, satellite data show that yields have been declining since 2000. Furthermore, a lack of services in rural areas is driving people to cities to seek better opportunities, which means that the local population’s incentive to increase agricultural activity is low. Governmental plans suggest land extensification to increase production and self-sufficiency, but the land use classification shows little available land. Instead, we recommend supporting small-scale traditional agriculture development as a more sustainable and feasible alternative. Additionally, more resources need to be focused on improving rural infrastructure and services to increase access to education and health care as a means of gaining support from the local population.

Suggested Citation

  • Lina Eklund & Abdulhakim Abdi & Mine Islar, 2017. "From Producers to Consumers: The Challenges and Opportunities of Agricultural Development in Iraqi Kurdistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:6:y:2017:i:2:p:44-:d:102215
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eugenia Kalnay & Ming Cai, 2003. "Impact of urbanization and land-use change on climate," Nature, Nature, vol. 423(6939), pages 528-531, May.
    2. Lina Eklund & Jonathan Seaquist, 2015. "Meteorological, agricultural and socioeconomic drought in the Duhok Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 76(1), pages 421-441, March.
    3. Jean-Paul Chavas & David Hummels & Brian D. Wright, 2014. "The Economics of Food Price Volatility," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number chav12-1.
    4. Chavas, Jean-Paul & Hummels, David & Wright, Brian D. (ed.), 2014. "The Economics of Food Price Volatility," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226128924, September.
    5. Jean-Paul Chavas & David Hummels & Brian D. Wright, 2014. "Introduction to "The Economics of Food Price Volatility"," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Food Price Volatility, pages 1-11, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kibrom A. Abay & Lina Abdelfattah & Hoda El‐Enbaby & Mai Mahmoud & Clemens Breisinger, 2022. "Plot size and sustainable input intensification in smallholder irrigated agriculture: Evidence from Egypt," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(5), pages 792-810, September.
    2. Joost Jongerden & Wouter Wolters & Youri Dijkxhoorn & Faik Gür & Murat Öztürk, 2019. "The Politics of Agricultural Development in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in Iraq (KRI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Katharina Lange, 2022. "The value of the homeland: Land in Duhok, Kurdistan‐Iraq, as territory, resource, and landscape," Economic Anthropology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(2), pages 270-283, June.

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