Salinity seminar, Baghdad [antikvár]

- 1 - 1. ihtroductioh Agricultural production in the Near East Region relies heavily on irrigation. However, in almost all the irrigated zones and oases in the countries of this Region, irrigation is hampered by waterlogging, salinity and alkalinity. This is due in psirt to limited available supplies of water and high evaporation rates, but mainly to the irrigation of land not suitable for drainage, and also to the improper quality, supply and use of water. As a result, returns from irrigated lands are low, and much land goes out of production each year. Its reclamation is costly and slow. The problem is a continuing one, and its severe impact on national economy and rural environment is being increasingly recognized. In I964 an PAO Seminar on Waterlogging in Relation to Irrigation and Salinity Problems was held in Lahore, Pakistan. As a follow-up to this event a further Seminar on the siibject including the problems of land reclamation was requested by the Ninth PAO Regional Conference for the Near East held in Baghdad in September I968. The Conference adopted the following recommendations: The Conference concerned with the serious and extensive problem of waterlogging, soil salinity and land reclamation in the Region, emphasizing the need for specialized training at all levels and for a systematic approach to these two problems among the countries of the Region, recommends that the Director-General of PAO should organize, at an early date, q. seminar on waterlogging, soil salinity and land reclamation under the aegis of the PAO Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East with a view to establishing a Regional Institute to specialize in the investigation into and training of technical manpower at all levels in waterlogging, soil salinity and land reclamation; further recommends that the member countries of the Region should avail themselves of the possibilities for coordinated action in this important field through the existing Land and Water Use Commission; notes with appreciation the kind invitation of Iraq to hold the above mentioned Seminar in that country. In accordance with these recommendations, PAO, in cooperation with the Government of Iraq, organized a Seminar entitled "Methods of Amelioration of Saline and Waterlogged Soils", which was held in Baghdad from 5 to 14 December 1970. The Seminar was financed by the United Nations Development Programme, TA Sector, The primary purpose of this Seminar was to bring together senior government officials and high level experts to review and discuss the scientific, technical and organizational aspects of 1) reclaiming or improving salt affected and waterlogged soils, 2) conserving productive lands, and 3) using saline water for irrigation. This aim was amply realized due to the high professional quality of the participants, their active contribution to discussions and to the excellent facilities provided by the Host Government, As shown in the agenda, the programme included lectures, country statements, field trips and film shows. Much importance was attached to the exchange of experience and views in the discussions. These were often extended beyond the official working hours. The field trips offered concrete illustration of the subjects dealt with, and showed the serious situation of Iraq's agriculture due to salinity and waterlogging. The technical papers presented at the Seminar under the Agenda Item? 3 to 12, with the exception of Item 9, are included in full in this report. Item 9 has been merged, together with a number of excellent reports presented by the Government of Iraq, into a master paper which is included as the country report of the Government of Iraq. However, in order to