High levels of input subsidies, guaranteed commodity prices and free food distribution have distorted agricultural markets in Iraq and provided no incentive for innovation by farmers. In addition, scientists have had limited access to international developments in the agricultural sector for over two decades. In concert with other investments by the Australian Government, the ACIAR project is intended to assist the Iraqi Government in its quest to modernise agricultural markets and production systems.

ACIAR's current project has been shaped by the relevance of Australian expertise to Iraqi conditions and by the constraint of limited access to Iraq by Australian scientists. It focuses on the enhancement of barley, wheat and grain legume production under dryland conditions in northern Iraq through the introduction and evaluation of appropriate modern varieties; and on the adaptation of improved management practices, including tillage, fertiliser and weed control techniques. Significant yield improvements are anticipated given that current yields of these crops are only about one-third of those under similar conditions in developed countries. The project is co-funded by AusAID and ACIAR, managed by ACIAR, and executed by ICARDA and Australian research organisations.