Six months after the Arab Summit in Baghdad last May, the specialised training course entitled “Using Smart Agricultural Technologies in Controlled Environments to Address Climate Change Challenges in Arid Lands” concluded on 27 November in Baghdad, the capital of the Republic of Iraq. The course was organised by the Ministry of Planning in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Iraq, and in partnership with the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries and the African Union Bureau for Agriculture, with the participation of agricultural engineers from several African countries.
The closing ceremony was attended by Ambassador Mohannad Saleh Lajouzi, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Director-General of the Fund, representing His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, along with officials from the two Iraqi ministries and the head of the African Union Bureau for Agriculture.
Delivering his address on behalf of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Lajouzi expressed his appreciation to the Republic of Iraq, its government, and its people for hosting the course. He commended the support of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Ali Tamim, Minister of Planning, and his deputy, as well as the follow-up by Dr. Sabbah Jundi Mansour, in addition to the role of the Ministry of Agriculture under the leadership of the Minister and his deputies. He also acknowledged the scientific and organisational support provided by the Iraqi authorities, which contributed to the programme’s success.
He further commended the strategic cooperation with the African Union, which has extended for more than 10 years, and the support provided by Dr. Ahmed Al-Maqqas, head of the African Union Office for Agriculture, and his deputy, Mr. Mori. He stressed that their participation constituted a significant addition to Arab-African cooperation in the field of agricultural development.
From the Iraqi side, Dr. Sabbah Jundi Mansour, Director-General of the Economic and Financial Policies Department at the Ministry of Planning, and Engineer Munir Kreidi, Director-General of the Agricultural Extension Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, delivered remarks in which they thanked the League of Arab States for its efforts and praised its active role. They welcomed the participants and wished them success. They also highlighted the importance of organising this first-of-its-kind course in Iraq, underscoring the depth of Arab-African relations.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Maqqs, head of the African Union Office for Agriculture, also lauded the fruitful cooperation between the African Union and the League of Arab States through the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries, which has continued for more than a decade.
The course, held from 22 to 27 November, featured an intensive training programme addressing topics such as protected agriculture, modern irrigation and fertilisation systems, hydroponics and aeroponics, and climate change adaptation strategies. Practical demonstrations and discussions further enriched the exchange of expertise among participants.
Agricultural engineers from participating African countries affirmed that the course provided a valuable opportunity to learn about Iraqi and Arab experiences in smart agriculture and contributed to enhancing their technical skills.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, certificates were presented to participants and instructors, and commemorative plaques were exchanged between the Iraqi side and the Director-General of the Fund in recognition of the efforts that ensured the success of the course.
The continuation of cooperation between the League of Arab States, Iraqi institutions, and the African Union was also affirmed, with the aim of organising future training programmes to support efforts to address climate change and strengthen sustainable food security.
