July 17, 2009

A recently established international partnership will focus on developing a strong and viable beef and lamb feedlot industry for Iraq, according to project participants.

 

The partnership between the Inma Agribusiness Programme, US Agency for International Development, and US and Iraqi governmental agencies, universities and agribusiness groups and individuals will bring new private sector economic opportunities to Iraq, they said.

 

Through technical and financial support, the partnership will seek to make Iraq a top beef producer in the Arab world, said Dr. Ma'd Mohammed, Inma project coordinator and a key programme participant.

 

Working with the Iraqi government, project participants are helping develop and diversify Iraq's agribusiness sector, generating new employment opportunities and helping to create a more viable and profitable agribusiness industry for the future.

 

Ongoing initiatives of the Inma programme include improving Iraq's crop diversity and livestock production, providing better agricultural information systems, developing and implementing soil reclamation and water resource programmes, and increasing domestic and foreign agribusiness partnerships.

 

In Iraq's livestock sector, the programme is addressing production and marketing of quality meat cuts, improving meat processing equipment and operational systems infrastructure, and establishing a more modern and widely acceptable meat-handling system. It also is focused on helping establish improved product grades and standards, including a live animal grading system, and enhancing red meat packaging and marketing.

 

The new Inma feedlot initiative will also help establish the forage industry in Iraq, develop a feeder calf and lamb industry for consistent supply, create a demand for improved refrigerator transport and encourage the establishment of a standardised red meat grading system.

 

The project also is expected to improve food security by providing higher quality, healthier animals. Feedlot project activities will be part of the overall Inma agribusiness programme, which is contracted through May 2010, and contains provisions for two additional one-year extensions.

 

The Inma programme hopes to establish about 30 feedlots throughout Iraq. Project plans indicate the feedlot initiative could create as many as 500 jobs directly within established feedlots and many more in affiliated businesses.

 

The demand for high quality red meat in Iraq outweighs supply, and red meat consumption in that country is growing at about 10 to 15 percent a year. 

 

Feedlot-related activities will begin with the development of 10 feedlots in different areas of Iraq. Locally produced alfalfa, barley, maize, dates and supplemental minerals will be used to fatten feedlot livestock.

 

The Inma feedlot project also will open the door for new business ventures and the use of new technology, Mohammed added. It will also help create opportunities for meat exports.