Iraq

Iraq is an oil-rich upper-middle-income country. More than one in four Iraqis live in rural areas. Agriculture is a vital part of the economy although it accounts for just 2.8 per cent of GDP.

The national poverty rate increased from nearly 20 per cent in 2012 to 30 per cent in 2022, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas. This is due to rapid population growth, conflict, political instability and environmental degradation. Rural farmers in the south and north-west are particularly exposed to poverty and displacement.

Iraq is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly water scarcity and desertification. This makes irrigation difficult and diminishes sustainable income-generating opportunities for rural communities. Combined with degraded infrastructure and mismanagement of natural resources, food systems, biodiversity and long-term stability are at risk.

The labour force participation rate of women is one of the lowest in the world  at just 10.6 per cent. Agriculture accounts for 14.4 per cent of female employment, twice that of male employment in the sector. Youth unemployment is also particularly high.

Agriculture is one of the key sectors to accelerate non-oil growth, reduce poverty, advance social justice, and empower women and youth. In 2017, IFAD and Iraq signed their first post-war agricultural investment project.

IFAD aims to reduce poverty, increase the productivity of smallholder farmers and improve food security, while enhancing resilience to climate change. It does so by investing in irrigation infrastructure and improving access to financial services, technologies and markets.

The post-conflict period has seen the return of 4.8 million displaced people to their areas of origin.

• Over 130,000 people are displaced due to water scarcity.
• Iraq’s national poverty rate is estimated at 30% in 2022, with significant disparities between rural and urban areas.
• Only 10.6 per cent of women are economically active, compared to 68 per cent of men.