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 Farm workers weed tomatoes in Halabja, Iraq, on June 11, 2004. (Photo: Mark McDonald/KRT) |
Oil is Iraq's chief export and source of income. After the Persian Gulf War of 1991, however, revenues were severely reduced due to economic sanctions imposed by the international community in response to Iraq's continued military aggression. Since the end of the Iraq War in 2003, great efforts have been made to revitalize Iraq's oil industry and all other aspects of the economy and the infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.
Services.Services account for more than half of Iraq's economy. The two strongest segments of the service industries are government and banking.
Manufacturing.The extraction and refining of oil is Iraq's chief industry. Others include the manufacture of chemicals, textiles, construction materials, and processed foods.
Agriculture.Modern farming methods have greatly increased Iraq's agricultural production. Barley and wheat are the chief cereal grains. Rice is grown in the south, where water for irrigation is abundant. Iraq is the world's largest producer of dates, the chief export crop. Cotton, sugarcane, and sugar beets also have significant commercial value.
Livestock are also an important part of Iraq's agricultural economy. Camels, sheep, and goats are raised in many parts of the country. Cattle are grazed in irrigated areas. Wool and animal hides are exported, and milk and meat are consumed locally.
Transportation.Roads, railways, and one airline connect Iraq's major cities. But many structures were destroyed during the Iraq War. Most people in rural areas rely on bicycles or animals for transportation. Oil and natural gas are transported by pipelines.
Communication.Six daily newspapers are published in Iraq--four in Arabic, one in Kurdish, and one in English. The country has limited television and radio networks.
John R.
Randall
Ohio State University
Reviewed by Arthur Campbell Turner
Coauthor, Power and Ideology in the
Middle East
