Review: The State of Agricultural Extension in Iraq and the Challenges It Faces in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54174/pg1w5j67Keywords:
digital extension, , agricultural challenges,, climate change,, natural resource management,Abstract
The agricultural sector in Iraq is one of the pillars of the national economy, given its vital role in promoting food security and providing employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas that rely primarily on agriculture as a source of income. Despite Iraq’s vast agricultural resources, such as fertile land and water resources represented by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, this sector has experienced a significant decline in recent decades as a result of successive wars. Climate change, deteriorating infrastructure, and weak agricultural policies have also led the agricultural sector to face serious environmental challenges, most notably water scarcity, rising soil salinity, and desertification, which have directly impacted agricultural production and the efficient use of natural resources. These challenges have contributed to a decline in domestic production and increased reliance on imports to meet food demand.
Downloads
References
Al-Ahbabi, N. J. M., Al-Ajili, A. M. A.(2021).Analysis of the impact of agricultural pricing policies and government support policy on wheat production in Iraq, Tikrit Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences, 17(53), 382-398.
Al-Ajeeli, S. A. Y. (2022). Supposed a proposal for developing the agricultural extension organization in Iraq and activating its role in achieving sustainable development. Tikrit Journal for Agricultural Sciences, 22(2), 1–12.https://doi.org/10.25130/tjas.22.2.1.
AL-Atabi, J.M., Suleiman, A. A., & Al-Fallahi, A. A.(2019). Spatial variation of soil salinity using remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems in Sheikh Saad project. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Research, 24(1), 108–124. https://ijarmoa.gov.iq/index.php/ijar/en/article/view/343?utm_source=chatgpt.com
AL-Ansari, A., Al-Janab, T., & Alotaibi, J. (2020). The reality of the relationship between agricultural research and extension organizations in Iraq. Arab Universities Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 28(3), 737–748. https://doi.org/10.21608/ajs.2020.153536.
Abdullah, A. S., Abdel Rahman, A. M., & Al-Hussein, A. A. N. (2025). Evaluating the efficiency of the agricultural extension system in Iraq from the farmers' perspective. International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development, 8(8), 521–525. https://doi.org/10.33545/26180723.2025.v8.i8h.2310
AL-Harout, H. A .(2023).Agricultural extension and rural development. Ramah Journal for Research and Studies, 76(3), 93–107. https://search.emarefa.net/ar/detail/BIM-1726564-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9
Aker, J. C. (2011). Dial -A- for agriculture: Using information and communication technologies for agricultural extension in developing countries. Agricultural Economics, 42(6), 631–647. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2011.00545.x
Al-Khazraji, R. M. I., & Al-Atwani, M.W. H.(2019). Proposed mechanism for institutional coordination between agricultural extension and research and agricultural service institutions working in Holy Karbala Governorate. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 50(3).867-878.https://jcoagri.uobaghdad.edu.iq/plugins/generic/pdfJsViewer/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fjcoagri.uobaghdad.edu.iq%2Findex.php%2Fintro%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F703%2F569%2F1320.
Al-Taiy, H.K.(2014).Suggested approach for reforming agricultural extension system in Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Agriculture Research,19(7), 204-216. https://iasj.rdd.edu.iq/journals/uploads/2025/11/13/d00fe3b3cf6662cbbbd80ac197302b56.pdf.
AL-Obaidi, M. T., & Abdulrazzaq, M. R. (2020). Perception of agricultural extension agents of climate change impacts on the agricultural reality and the adopted awareness mechanisms for farmers in the Middle Euphrates provinces of Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Research, 25(1), 134–146. https://doi.org/10.65814/ijar.2020.25.1.134.
Danso .G., Ehiakpor, D., & Aidoo, R.(2018). Agricultural extension and its effects on farm productivity and income: Insight from Northern Ghana. Agriculture & Food Security, 7, (74),(1-10).
Food and Agriculture Organization.(2022). Agricultural extension systems in developing countries. FAO. https://www.fao.org/research-extension-systems/en/.
Food and Agriculture Organization.(2019). Climate-smart agriculture sourcebook. FAO. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/b21f2087-f398-4718-8461-b92afc82e617/content.
Ghloub, M. A.(2025).A proposed vision for reforming the agricultural extension system in Iraq - PhD thesis, unpublished PhD thesis, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad.
Hameed, A. S. (2024). The reality of extension works in the Directorate of Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Research in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. UHD Journal of Science and Technology, 8(1).93-98.
Hammad, M. R., & Ali, M. K. (2025). The role of agricultural extension activities in facing climate change from the perspective of wheat farmers in Baiji District / Salah Al-Din Governorate. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Research, 29(2), 126–137.DOI: https://doi.org/10.65814/ijar.2025.29.2.126.
Hashim, M. H., & Aljubory, I. H.(2025). Educational and cultural reasons for farmers' reluctance to attend agricultural extension activities of the Nineveh Agriculture Directorate: A field study in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development, 8(8), 541–544. https://doi.org/10.33545/26180723.2025.v8.i8h.2314.
Hlatshwayo, P. P. K., & Worth, S. H. (2019). Agricultural extension: Criteria to determine its visibility and accountability in resource poor communities. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 47(2), 13–20. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2019/v47n2a499.
Kamruzzaman, M., Daniell, K., Chowdhury, A., & Crimp, S. (2021). The role of extension and advisory services in strengthening farmers’ innovation networks to adapt to climate extremes. Sustainability, 13(4), 1941. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041941.
Khalaf, A. G., & Al-Mashhadani, A. L.(2024).Problems of using digital agricultural extension in providing agricultural advisory services from the viewpoint of agricultural extension agents. Iraqi Journal of Market Research and Consumer Protection, 16(2),86–100. https://jmracpc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/IJMRCP/article/view/453.
Khamis, A., Ali, N., & Ali, A.(2023).Challenges facing the agricultural extension organization and ways to address them. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1262, 102001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1262/10/102001
Khudair, N., & Ali, M.(2025). Farmers’ knowledge of scientific recommendations related. to pesticide use in Salah Al-Din Governorate. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Research, 29(2), 113–125.
DOI: 10.65814/ijar.2025.29.2.113.
Maher, A. (2017). Sustainable Agricultural Development in Iraq - Reality and Challenges, Journal of University of Human Development 3(4),9-26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21928/juhd.v3n4y2017.pp9-26.
Muhaibis, I. J.(2025).A proposed model for developing the capabilities of the agricultural extension system in Iraq, PhD thesis, unpublished, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad.
Muhaibis, I., & Al-Taiy, H.(2024). Review: New trends in capacity development for agricultural extension systems. Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences, 15(3), 139–145, https://doi.org. 10.58928/ku24.15317.
Rivera, W., & Qamar, M.(2003). Agricultural extension, rural development and food security. FAO.
Saber, M.(2020). Training needs of agricultural extension workers in Salah Al-Din Governorate (Master’s thesis). Tikrit University, College of Agriculture.
Sadiddin, A., Bertini, R.,& Shideed, K. (2023). Are Iraqi displaced farmers returning to agriculture? Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) & International Organization for Migration (IOM). https://doi.org/10.4060/cc4099en.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. UN. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda.
Wang, G., Lu, Q., & Capareda, S.(2020).Social network and extension service in farmers’ agricultural technology adoption efficiency. PLOS ONE, 15(7), e0235927. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235927.
World Bank. (2020). Iraq economic monitor. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/145988dc-a4dd-5152-bea1-f4bb9c7347c0
World Bank. (2018). Iraq agriculture sector note. World Bank.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ihsan Hassuny
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
1.png){kind=spacer}
