A parliamentarian from the Sunni National Dialogue Front (NDF) called for supporting the Iraqi agricultural and industrial sectors in a way that enables the country to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce its imports to a minimum.
"The amount allocated from the 2008 budget for importing foodstuffs is relatively large compared to that allocated for supporting local agriculture and industry…," MP Sheikh al-Jarba told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI), by phone from the Jordanian capital Amman.
The parliamentarian highlighted the competition between local agricultural products and imported goods, which he said has resulted in a decline in the agricultural sector and the loss of a vital element in Iraq's economy.
He called on the government to help farmers by arranging personal loans for them and support manufacturers by encouraging food processing industries.
The National Dialogue Front, led by Saleh al-Motlaq, holds 28 seats in the 275-member parliament.
