[OKP+TMT] Netherlands

Orange Knowledge Programme and Tailor Made Training [ OKP+TMT]- Netherlands.
Title: Modern and climate smart farming and water management for selected supply chains in Iraq; “Efficient Water Management in Iraq by Switching to Climate Smart Agriculture: Capacity Building and Knowledge Development.
The project was financially supported and awarded by the Orange Knowledge programme of the Netherlands.
The project period was for two years, from March 202 to March 2022.
The partners of the programme were:
- Iv-Water BV (contract holder)
- Nectaerra BV
- Wageningen University & Research
- The Salt Doctors BV
- Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR)-Iraq
- Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)-Iraq
- Salahaddin University-Erbil-Iraq
- University of Basra-Iraq
- University of Kerbala-Iraq
The Project aim was theoretical and practical on-farm training in Iraq and in the Netherlands aimed at strengthening and upgrading the horticulture sector in Iraq over the entire farming chain and over multiple stakeholder sectors.
The project outputs were:
1. More sustainable and commercially viable farm designs that give higher crop yields while saving water.
2. Strengthening of scientific, institutional and commercial cooperation in saline and climate smart farming and water management.
3. Capacity building in advanced greenhouse horticulture & post-harvest technology and best-practices.
4. One scholarship gave to a staff of Salahaddin University-Erbil, leaded to MSc in the field of water management in Agriculture sector. The Scholarship was a part of Orange Knowledge Programme in Iraq (OKP-IRA-104278/30005) –Nuffic. The study was took place at IHE Delft University –Netherlands
The project scope were theoretical and practical on-farm training from pre-sowing to post-harvest, for open field and greenhouse farming, with a focus on climate smart farming and saline farming. Three types of training are provided:
1. Short courses provided on-farm in Erbil (CSA) and Basra (saline farming)
2. Exchange visits of Iraqi beneficiaries to the Netherlands (advanced greenhouse
Horticulture, value chain and post-harvest logistics)
3. University internships “on-site” in Erbil and Basra
1-Short courses in Iraq:
The workshops provided a range of practical farming and water management training from pre-sowing to post-harvest. The training was divided over 14 weeks of training in Erbil and Basra, each region having a different set of market and biophysical conditions.
In Erbil and Basra, the practical training intended to strengthen scientific and institutional capacity, while providing practical lessons to commercial farmers for higher crop yield with less water. Saline and climate smart crop varieties are introduced and planted, water management and agroforestry interventions are implemented, and plots are maintained throughout the project allowing continued optimization and better cross-reference of results and farming practices.
Topics included: saline farming, sustainable land & water management, climate smart farm design & GIS, advanced farming practices (land/crop/farm management, soil/crop/water monitoring and management, agroforestry/ landscaping, fertilization & pest control, water harvesting, drainage and reuse, farm finances & planning, community investing, export opportunities & entrepreneurship.
2-Exchange visits to Netherlands:
A 3-week exchange program was conducted for 15 Iraqi trainees in the areas of greenhouse horticulture and value chain design and post-harvest logistics. Participants set up greenhouse trails at pilot location(s) either in Basra/ Erbil or both.
Greenhouse Horticulture (2 weeks):
High tech, mid-tech and low-tech greenhouse solutions were addressed and placed in the context of the Iraq climate and market. The course was a mix of lectures, practical case studies and company visits.
Topics included: introduction to greenhouse horticulture (trends and success factors), visit to experimental farm, design of a passive greenhouse, crop physiology and crop management, visit commercial growers, water/irrigation and sub-strate, climate management, visit commercial growers, plant nutrition, crop health, propagation, exercises own experience.
Value chain design and post-harvest logistics (1 week): product-market chain development and value chain (re-)design & logistics, post-harvest technology and economic evaluation.
Topics included: product screening and market opportunity identification (screening “existing” products, surveying to identify new product market opportunities, market dynamics and analysis, value chain mapping, identify and assess constraints/opportunities and solutions, agro-logistic design, first mile logistic, cold storage facilities and designs, extended storage, controlled climate, energy savings, CBA.
3. Internships Student intern was participated in the on-farm courses in Iraq, and benefited from supporting the entire pre-sowing to post-harvest chain on multiple plots in Erbil and Basra.
Trainees - Short courses: 150 trainees in one or more of 14 training courses in Iraq.
- Exchange programme Wageningen: 15 trainees in the Netherlands.
- Internships in Iraq: 10 Iraqi students.
- Participation rate of female staff was 50%.
Long-term impacts:
- Better agricultural growth;
- Increased water efficiency in agriculture
- Creation of ecologically sustainable food systems based on modern agro-logistical applications throughout selected value chains
Long-term indicators:
- Up until 2030 about 1000 family farms will have doubled their production and/or income;
- Around 5000 people will benefit from increased water efficiency in agriculture;
- Nearly 10.000 hectares of farm land will be turned into ecologically sustainable food systems;
- Of the people who benefit on the long term, 50% was under the age of 35 and 50% was female;
- About 3-5 fresh produce value chains are (re-)designed using suitable agro-logistical solutions.
In the Netherlands, the projected was leaded by Dr. Karrar Mahdi, while in Iraq, during the first year of the project life, it was leaded by;
Dr. Mohammed Azeez Saeed.
With the complements of:
Dr. Mohammed Azeez Saeed,
Salahaddin University-Erbil
Kurdistan Region - Iraq.