Reduction of Investments in Agriculture in 2005

Al-Bayan newspaper quoted Iraqi Agriculture Minister Dr. ‘Ali Hussein al-Bahadali who said in late September 2005 that the lack of security in the country has had a negative effect on investments in agriculture causing a reduction in the extent of these investments during 2005. He estimated that in the future investors in agriculture would focus on the beef and meat industry, including building dairies and chicken barns in order to supply local demand and export agricultural products abroad.