Assistant Professor Dr. Salah Jassim Amin, a faculty member at the College of Agriculture, participated as a lecturer in an extension seminar organized by the Agricultural Extension and Training Center in cooperation with the Kirkuk Agriculture Directorate – Laylan Agriculture Division and the Local Farmers’ Associations Union. The seminar addressed agricultural value chains and their role in the successful marketing of field crops, with the attendance and participation of a number of farmers.
Dr. Salah explained that his lecture covered the concept of agricultural value chains and their importance in developing the agricultural sector, as well as the stages involved in the value chain of local crops, from the provision of production inputs, cultivation, and harvesting to marketing. He also discussed the role of good agricultural practices in improving the quality and market value of local crops; proper harvesting, storage, and transportation methods to reduce agricultural losses; and the marketing channels available for local crops, highlighting the role of local markets, traders, and farmers’ associations in facilitating the marketing process.
The lecture further addressed the importance of crop sorting, grading, and packaging in enhancing the competitiveness of agricultural products, the main challenges farmers face in marketing field crops and possible solutions, and the role of agricultural extension in strengthening value chains and improving farmers’ economic returns.
