AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF INVESTMENT IN RECLAMATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN IRAQ FOR THE PERIOD (1989-2006).

Abstract

Productive Investment in agricultural land reclamation aimed at achieving economic growth and sustained development in agricultural sector by horizontal and vertical expansion in cultivated area through reclamation of soil in order to achieve economies of scale. The reclamated area could contribute in increasing the economic feasibility in order to achieve self-sufficiency from agricultural products in Iraq. The research includes the calculation of plant production value in rain-fed areas in fixed prices for wheat and barley in addition to calculation of plant production value in irrigated areas in fixed prices for different field crops . Also the value of plant production in reclamated areas in Iraq in fixed prices for different crops was calculated. The results showed the feasibility of productive investment in land reclamation projects in Iraq for the period 1989-2006 when using rate of return for investment by using Internal rate of return IRR . The IRR value was (19%) which means that agricultural productive investment is much better than opportunity cost of capital expressed by rate of interest in banks which were between 12-14% for short , medium and long term loans .