Page 22 - AA 2026

Iraq

FAO supports livestock breeders in Southern Iraq amid

harsh climate conditions affecting marshlands

Across southern Iraq, climate pres-
sures continue to affect rural com-
munities, with years of drought and
harsh environmental conditions plac-
ing increasing strain on vulnerable
livestock breeders and threatening
livelihoods and food security.
In response to these challenges,
and following a request from the
Government of Iraq to draw on the
expertise and experience of the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) in supporting
buffalo breeders in the marshlands,
the Organization, with the support of
the European Union and in coordina-
tion with the Ministry of Agriculture
(MoA) and local authorities, has suc-
cessfully completed the distribution impacted by prolonged drought, ris- “Climate-related pressures are se-
of emergency animal feed to affected ing temperatures and reduced water verely affecting rural communities in
communities. inflows. Even during colder periods, southern Iraq, particularly the 6,000
vegetation cover remained insuffi- families living in the marshlands who
Across the governorates of Basra, cient, further reducing the availabil- rely on buffalo breeding for their live-
Maysan and Thi Qar, FAO supported ity of natural fodder and intensifying lihoods,” said FAO Representative in
3 300 livestock breeders with feed pressure on livestock. Iraq, Salah El Hajj Hassan. “Without
packages, helping them sustain their timely support, many of these fami-
animals and safeguard their primary These conditions have led to declin- lies risk losing their main source of
source of income during a critical pe- ing feed availability and increased income. FAO remains fully committed
riod. pressure on already vulnerable live-
stock production systems. Buffaloes to supporting rural livelihoods, and
The challenging situation is particu- are increasingly weakened by lack we highly value our close coopera-
larly acute for buffalo breeders in the of feed and deteriorating grazing tion with the Government of Iraq, as
Iraqi marshlands, where more than 6 conditions, leading to reduced pro- well as the support of the European
000 rural families depend on buffalo ductivity and forcing some breeders Union. Through this intervention, we
rearing as their primary source of to sell their animals at low prices or are helping livestock breeders pro-
livelihood, making them especially leave their traditional livelihoods. tect their assets while contributing to
vulnerable to climate shocks. Severe The recent distribution, completed broader climate resilience efforts un-
water shortages and declining water at the end of March 2026, helped der the United Nations framework.”
levels have led to significant losses of address immediate feed shortages, These efforts align with the Gov-
livestock, undermining both income reduce the risk of further livestock ernment of Iraq’s ongoing priorities
and food security. losses, and prevent the displacement to support rural communities and
of livestock breeders.
Southern Iraq’s marshlands, a vi- strengthen the agriculture sector in
tal ecosystem and cultural heritage FAO’s support builds on its contin- the face of climate challenges. In this
landscape, were inscribed on the ued engagement in Southern Iraq. In context, Mithaq Al Khafaji, Techni-
UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2021, the Organization also delivered cal Deputy Minister of Agriculture,
2016 in recognition of their outstand- feed to farmers in the same governor- stated: “Supporting livestock breed-
ing environmental and archaeologi- ates, helping them cope with earlier ers in the marshlands is essential
cal value, and have been severely waves of drought. to preserving livelihoods and sus-
20 Arab Agriculture 2026