MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I welcome today's early handover of Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture to the
Iraqi interim Minister for Agriculture, Dr Abdul-Amir Al-Abood.
The handover by the Coalition Provisional Authority highlights the good
progress made in returning key Iraqi ministries to Iraqi control.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Baghdad is in excellent shape, due in no small
part to the hard work and dedication of the Australian agricultural advisory
team, supported by the Australian Government.
Our agricultural team led by Trevor Flugge was on the ground in Baghdad in
April 2003. Australian advisers continue to provide technical and policy advice
to the Ministry.
The Australian Government has allocated $40 million to the rehabilitation of
Iraq's agriculture.
Australian advisers also helped plan and oversee the successful 2003 harvests
and ensured that farmers were paid for their crops. Our advisers are now working
on longer-term training and technical assistance activities to support the
sustainability of Iraqi agriculture.
Some of the Australian funding has been used to restore the Ministry building
and the Iraqi Grains Board building in Baghdad.
Minister Al-Abood and a senior delegation of officials from the Ministry of
Agriculture visited Australia in November 2003 at the Australian Government's
invitation. We have also recently hosted a delegation from the Iraqi Grains
Board.
Iraqi agriculture suffered 25 years of mismanagement and neglect under Saddam
Hussein's regime. Agricultural production fell by an average of one per cent a
year for 15 years due to bad policy and lack of resources. Given the potential
of Iraqi agriculture to relieve the suffering of the Iraqi people it is
imperative that Saddam's shameful legacy now be reversed.
Thanks in large part to Australian efforts, the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture
is now led by Iraqis and well-placed to deliver a better future.
Media contacts:
Chris Kenny (Minister's Office) 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Dominic Morice (AusAID) 02 6206 4220 or 0417 683 126