National Quinoa Cultivation Program Project

As part of the research activities conducted by the Center for Desert Studies, Professor Dr. Saif Al-Din Abdul-Razzaq conducted a joint field visit on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, to the Field Crops Research Station of the Agricultural Research Directorate in Baghdad. The visit aimed to review collaborative projects, including the National Program for the Development of Quinoa Cultivation in Iraq, a strategic crop of critical importance.

The visit also included the Al-Dawar Research Station in Anbar to implement the research plan for the second season. The following day, the team visited the Daquq Agricultural Research Station in Kirkuk to evaluate the performance of various quinoa genotypes in multiple locations. These visits were conducted in collaboration with a team of researchers from the Agricultural Research Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture.

It is worth noting that current efforts focus on identifying new quinoa varieties and expanding their cultivation due to their distinct characteristics, such as their high nutritional value and high adaptability. Quinoa is capable of growing in environments where many traditional crops cannot grow, from sea level to elevations of up to 4,500 meters. It also tolerates wide temperature fluctuations ranging from 5°C to 38°C and can produce satisfactory crops even with rainfall as low as 300 mm. Furthermore, quinoa's ability to grow in drought-prone and saline soils makes it an ideal choice for sustainable agriculture in arid regions.