The first of its kind ... France supports Basra activities with 250,000 euros

Time: 04/08/2021 18:10:40
 
{Economy: Al Furat News} The United Nations World Food Program welcomed France's contribution of 250,000 euros to support resilience-building activities with regard to agricultural activities in Basra Governorate in southern Iraq, which will support 7,500 people and their families.

According to a UNAMI statement, France’s contribution to working with the World Food Program in southern Iraq is the first of its kind, which will contribute to strengthening self-reliance and in the long term for tens of thousands of people indirectly in fragile and food insecure societies. Indeed, such initiatives They are extremely important during a pandemic.

The Federal Government of Germany represented by the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funded this project as well. The project is implemented in cooperation with the Basra municipality, local communities and the Action Against Hunger Organization as an implementing partner and it is a non-governmental organization.

"Iraq is particularly affected by climate change due to drought and salinity of irrigation water, including in the south of the country," said the French ambassador to Iraq, Bruno Hubert. "There is an urgent need to take some measures about this. In this context, France is deeply committed to supporting agriculture in Iraq through the World Food Program. The palm plantation will contribute to combating desertification and support the Iraqi farmers' revenues," he added.

Women represent more than half of the participants in this project, which provides grants to about 50 trainees, to support them in establishing small projects. This includes advising on food production, marketing and selling to local markets, strengthening linkages and helping to create and create sustainable income.

For his part, the representative of the World Food Program in Iraq, Abdul Rahman Megaj, confirmed: "

"The strong partnership between the World Food Program and France on development assistance has a positive impact on local communities, improving agricultural productivity and access to water. Project participants can also build small businesses and food value chains for what they produce in southern Iraq," he added.

Solar powered irrigation water pumps are another innovative solution introduced in the project, along with training of participants in the application of environmental principles to agricultural systems and practices, which covers practices with low environmental impact. In this way, initiatives help improve livelihoods in an environmentally and economically continuous manner.

Wafa Al-Fatlawi

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