Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Basrah Publishes Article in the Iraqi Scientific Academy on the Status of Agricultural Colleges in Iraq
The Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Basrah, Prof. Dr. Sarmad Ghazi Mohammed Al-Shawi, contributed an article to the Iraqi Scientific Academy addressing the current status of agricultural colleges in Iraq.
Published in the journal Awrak Majma‘iya (Academy Papers), the article discussed the present realities of agricultural colleges, highlighting the major challenges they face and the proposed solutions.
Dr. Al-Shawi noted the significant decline in student enrollment in agricultural colleges across Iraq, attributing it to a combination of governmental, institutional, economic, and social challenges. He pointed to issues such as insufficient funding, the absence of policies to integrate graduates into the labor market, society’s preference for medical and engineering fields, and the limited agricultural employment opportunities available.
He also underscored the impact of the Ministry of Oil’s control over vast areas of agricultural land, weaknesses in curricula, the lack of practical training, and the difficulties graduates face in obtaining loans and support for agricultural projects.
As solutions, Dr. Al-Shawi proposed a package of measures, including increased governmental and financial support, allocating agricultural lands to graduates, updating curricula to align with modern technologies and smart agriculture, and establishing partnerships with the private sector and international organizations to provide job opportunities and hands-on training aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector.
Department of Media and Governmental Communication
