The Agricultural Economy of Iraq

Excerpt from the report Summary: Iraq is primarily an agricultural country with a considerable number of people engaged in pastoral activity. However, petroleum dominates its export trade, and light industry is increasing in growing urban centers. About three-fifths of Iraq's agricultural output by value comes from crops and two-fifths from livestock products. The country is an exporter of livestock products, fruit, cotton, and in some years, barley, but an importer of several other agricultural products, especially sugar, tea, fats and oils, and, in recent years, grain. Grains are by far the most important crops in Iraq. They occupy over 80 percent of the area reported in crops and account for well over half the calories in the average diet. Livestock products are next in importance to the diet, generally contributing about 20 percent of the calories. Livestock are raised throughout the country and are an important, or the only, source of income for a large share of the population of Iraq. Barley is the leading winter crop, while rice and cotton are the main summer crops. Much citrus and other fruits are grown for local consumption while Iraq is one of the world's leading producers of dates; and, in turn, dates are usually the first or second most important agricultural export, competing with barley for first place. Other important exports are wool, hides and skins, and cotton.