On 08/03/2011 H.E. Dr Ali Sindi, KRG Minister of Planning, received a Japanese agricultural delegation and members of JICA to discuss the Japanese agricultural projects in Kurdistan. The delegation announced two new projects to be implemented this year. The projects are:

First project:  Wheat productivity improvement towards food self-sufficiency. The purpose of the project is to extend knowledge to the local producers on utilizing technologies that are adaptable to the local conditions and provision of on-farm training on the modern technologies.

Second project: horticulture technology improvement and extension. This is a five-year project starting in August 2011. The overall goal of the project is to introduce suitable horticulture technology, promotion and marketing to small-scale farmers.

The Japanese government is financing these projects and implementing them in cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture and Planning.

Finally the Minister of Planning emphasized the importance of such projects to the Kurdistan economy and society and thanked the Japanese government for the continuous support provided to the KRG.