Climate changes and their repercussions on food security in Iraq
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Abstract
The study examined the impact of climate changes on the extent of achieving food security in Iraq, as the phenomenon of climate change posed a major threat to large areas of land resulting from the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources by humans. The research aimed to identify the reality of the phenomenon of climate change in Iraq as it is a region characterized by a climate It is semi-arid and sheds light on the extent to which Iraq is affected by these changes due to wars, pollution, drought and other environmental impacts. The results of this study showed that there is a clear climate change in most climate elements that has led to an increase in the general average temperatures as well as in the frequency of dust storms. And increasing daily levels of suspended particles, as well as environmental pollution. The exposure of large areas of land to deterioration directly contributed to the increase in the area of desertified lands threatened by drought and the loss of huge amounts of the surface layer due to the deterioration of vegetation cover, to soil deterioration and disintegration, land degradation and its repercussions on agricultural activity in Iraq and the resulting effects on food security and studying the reasons for the decline and decrease in Agricultural productivity to a level that does not meet the needs of local demand for it, and what are the implications of the inability of local production to meet the population’s requirements on food security and self-sufficiency. In Iraq, there was and still is an urgent need to develop and develop agricultural productivity, especially the production of strategic crops, As one of the most important crops in the food security system, in order to secure the increasing demand for foodstuffs resulting from the increase in the population and the rise in their standard of living, and thus achieve food security.
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References
Conclusions
-Climate phenomena have increased in severity in recent years through rising temperatures, lack of rainfall, and severe droughts, and have become a real threat to food security, whose significant impacts are reflected in human life and constitute a major obstacle in addressing hunger, poverty and its effects, and overcoming the effects of climate change.
- Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns and fluctuations may cause a negative impact on agricultural crops, including strategic ones. This requires appropriate management of land use, increasing agricultural productivity, and then achieving self-sufficiency.
- Climate changes have increased the pressure on environmental resources to meet food requirements, which requires uniting efforts to reduce them by all means, as they create an imbalance in the natural balance, which in turn affects food security.
- Climate changes have impacts on food security as a result of the decline in the productivity of environmental and agricultural systems and their effects on agricultural production.
- Failure to develop a plan and solutions that reduce the impact of climate change and ensure food security will negatively affect the food and health of citizens, especially the poor segments of them.
- Despite the international efforts made to limit these climate changes, they have not succeeded in truly addressing them for economic and political reasons.
Suggestions
- This study suggests to specialists to expedite the development of rapid programs and plans capable of confronting the dangers of these climate changes and reducing human activities that are harmful to the environment.
- Crystallizing integrated and advanced production systems, that is, integrating research that addresses these issues and crystallizing them into a complete agricultural production system for specific agricultural commodities, meaning transferring the results of research and research centers to the field and consolidating efforts between researchers and agricultural extension workers and among farmer producers.
- Adopting a specific, clearly defined strategy and developing its administrative, technical and scientific capabilities to develop the agricultural sector in Iraq, raise the level of local production, enhance the rate of self-sufficiency in grain crops, and then achieve food security.
- In the eyes of specialists, food security is considered human fuel and cannot be dispensed with under any circumstances, and this phenomenon will expose large areas to great risks. Therefore, food security must be regulated, one must avoid food waste, use more rational dietary patterns, and focus on healthy foods.
Sources
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