Iraq forms commissions to allocate land plots to needy citizens

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture has established technical and administrative commissions to distribute residential land plots to citizens in need, the ministry said. Ali Hammoud al-Shammari, Director General of the General Directorate of Agricultural Lands, said the commissions were created by administrative order within the agricultural lands department on the instruction of the Prime Minister, and will identify areas suitable for distribution. Al-Shammari said priority will be given to unused land that is unsuitable for agriculture, has low productivity or lacks water allocations. Productive farmland will be preserved for food security reasons, he added. Site selection will follow technical and engineering criteria, supported by surveys using aerial maps and satellite imagery, according to al-Shammari. Proximity to provincial centers and cities will also be considered to ensure access to infrastructure services. Al-Shammari said land identification work has been completed in Diwaniyah and has begun in other provinces according to a set timetable. He said the site identification process is expected to be completed within the year.