99 -- Agricultural Development for Iraq

USAID intends to initiate an 18-month activity called INMA, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and providing business development services to beneficiaries across all 18 governorates in Iraq. The project focuses on addressing diverse regional security conditions and technical needs to foster sustainable agricultural growth. Beginning in strategically important locations as directed by USAID, INMA will expand operations in response to improvements in Iraq's security situation. The initiative will be closely coordinated with other U.S. government entities, including the U.S. Embassy, Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Military, ensuring a flexible and adaptive approach to improving agricultural and agribusiness sectors under varying conditions. The core objective of INMA is to increase economic opportunities for Iraqis by boosting the competitiveness of private sector agricultural enterprises. The project will tackle persistent challenges such as outdated technology, distorted incentives stemming from subsidized inputs, and a command economy mindset, implementing a systemic value chain approach from production to market. Key technical areas of focus include enhancing farm-level productivity, deploying appropriate market information technologies, managing soil and water resources, improving agribusiness competitiveness, and fostering alliances for domestic and international partnerships. The activity may be extended depending on funding availability and alignment with USAID's mission strategy, with solicitation expected to be posted around late November 2006.