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    Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

    Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

    $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

    $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

    Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

    Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

    Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

    Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

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      Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

      Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

      Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

      Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

      Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

      GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

      GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

      New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

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      • CES 2017
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      Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

      Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

      $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

      $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

      Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

      Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

      Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

      Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

      Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

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        Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

        Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

        UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

        UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

        Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

        Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

        Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

        Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

        Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

        Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

        JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

        JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

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        • Hospitality

          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

          Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

          Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

          Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

          Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

          Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

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        • Agrofood
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          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

          Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

          $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

          $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

          Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

          Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

          Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

          Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

          Trending Tags

          • Business & Economy
            • All
            • Business
            • Economy
            • Finance
            • Industry
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Transport & Logistics

            Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

            Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

            Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

            Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

            Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

            GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

            GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

            New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

            Trending Tags

            • CES 2017
            • Election Results
            • eSports
          • Construction
            • All
            • Infrastructure
            • Real Estate
            Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

            Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

            $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

            $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

            Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

            Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

            Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

            Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

            Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

            Trending Tags

            • Energy
              • All
              • Oil & Gas
              • Power & Electricity
              • Renewable Energy
              Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

              Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

              UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

              UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

              Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

              Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

              Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

              Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

              Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

              Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

              JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

              JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

              Trending Tags

              • Hospitality

                Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

                Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

                Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

                Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

                Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

                Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

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              Kurdistan agriculture turning organic to compete internationally

              Rudaw

              October 11, 2017
              in Agriculture
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              The Kurdistan Region’s agriculture ministry has become a member of an international organization promoting organic agriculture. An official from the ministry said producing organic food will open new markets for local farmers. 
               
              The Ministry of Agriculture became a member of the German-based International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) two weeks ago. IFOAM connects some 800 affiliates in more than 100 countries. 
               
              “The Kurdistan Region cannot currently compete with Iran and Turkey in terms of product and price. That is why we thought about developing organic agriculture so that we can find an international market for our products through this way,” Dr. Anwar Ahmed, an official with the ministry’s High Committee of Organic Agriculture, told Rudaw.
               
              “Some businessmen from Kurdistan wanted to export Kurdistan’s produce and fruits to Qatar after Qatar came under an embargo imposed by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt. But Qatar rejected most of the products after examination showed abundant use of fertilizer. It only approved onion imports produced in a semi-organic manner. Through this experience we realized that the only way to enter international markets is to develop organic agriculture,” Ahmed explained.
               
              Organic agriculture is on the rise due to increasing demand for organic products. In 1999, nearly 11 million hectares of land were used to grow organic products. According to IFOAM, this increased to 43.7 hectares in 2013. The overall sale of organic products was 68 billion euros in the same year.
               
              According to data gathered by IFOAM, Australia pays the most attention to organic agriculture. It grows 12.14 million hectares of organic products annually. Argentina comes second in this regard with 3.8 million hectares and the US comes third with 1.9 million hectares. 
               
              “The Kurdistan Region has good infrastructure for organic agriculture. It only needs some instructions and some laws” to impose regulations, Ahmed said.
               
              Grapes, pomegranates, figs, apples, walnuts, rice, and honey are some of the products produced without the use of fertilizer, said Ahmed. But “we cannot sell them as organic or semi-organic products to other countries because no international organization has been supporting us to issue organic certificates for these products. This is due to the lack of a law specific on the bases of organic agriculture.”
               
              There are three sets of international criteria for organic food: the American, Japanese and European criteria. Each has its own regulations.
               
              “Most demands for organic products are from European countries. And because the Kurdistan Region’s climate and products are more suitable for the European criterion, that is why we want to benefit from European laws and criteria,” Ahmed said.
               
              Organic agriculture is more cost effective and better for the environment, argued Arshad Yasin Khoshnaw, an expert on the technique and a lecturer in Salahaddin University’s agriculture faculty.
               
              “Organic agriculture can help us obtain healthy food and clean the land from the damage of chemical fertilizer. This way, we don’t have to spend money on importing chemical fertilizer. Most of the fertilizer is harmful to the environment, land, and food products. Their quality is so low that they affect the growth of the products,” he said. 
               
              According to this expert, if the ministry takes steps to develop this kind of agriculture, it should begin with training sessions for farmers and should choose pieces of land that are far from roads and the poisonous gases emitted from cars. The ministry should start with land that has not already been exposed to heavy use of chemical materials.
               
              In organic agriculture, there are lower yields because of not using artificial seeds and chemical fertilizers. This is why organic agriculture is not favored by every farmer.
               
              “By using glasshouses, we can protect products from diseases and control the heat and cold; we can also grow most produce in a suspended way. This can make up for the reduced yield” of organic agriculture, said Khoshnaw.
               
              In the Kurdistan Region, there is good infrastructure for organic agriculture.
               
              As a first step, the Ministry of Agriculture has formed a high committee to work on organic agriculture. It has also produced some posters and leaflets and provincial directorates of agricultural research have been asked to pay particular attention to research on organic agriculture.
               
              “Changing Kurdistan’s agricultural system to organic is not an easy job. It needs a lot of time. In the first phase, farmers can stop using chemical fertilizer. They can learn to make organic fertilizer. In subsequent stages, we can use the areas that have seen fewer diseases. We can also benefit from useful ants to control diseases and the bushes,” said Maqsud Khalid, director of agricultural research in Erbil.
               
              Rudaw
              11 October
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