Monday, May 14, 2007
Food shortage possible as lack of fuel hampers harvesting
Fuel, Food
(Azzaman) - Hundreds of farmers in the agricultural province of Wasit have demonstrated against lack of fuel for their agricultural machines and tools. The farmers, who assembled at the mayor’s headquarters in the provincial capital Kut, said fuel shortages were preventing them from harvesting this year.
They raised placards and shouted slogans denouncing the government and the Oil Ministry for failing to make fuel available at a time the country sits on massive oil reserves. Salman al-Awsi warned that the shortages, if not alleviated, will eventually lead to the destruction of this year’s grain produce. Wasit is major wheat, barely and rice producer in the country.
Awsi said prices of fuel on the spot market were beyond many farmers’ reach. “If we buy from the black market that means the costs of planting and harvesting will soar,” he said. He said huge swathes of agricultural land planted with grains cannot be harvested because of lack of fuel. “There are more than 6,000 families whose livelihood depends on having the crops harvested as soon as possible,” he said.
Iraq faces acute fuel shortages and its refineries which met domestic needs under the former regime of Saddam Hussein are working much below capacity, forcing the authorities to import huge volume to meet demand.
They raised placards and shouted slogans denouncing the government and the Oil Ministry for failing to make fuel available at a time the country sits on massive oil reserves. Salman al-Awsi warned that the shortages, if not alleviated, will eventually lead to the destruction of this year’s grain produce. Wasit is major wheat, barely and rice producer in the country.
Awsi said prices of fuel on the spot market were beyond many farmers’ reach. “If we buy from the black market that means the costs of planting and harvesting will soar,” he said. He said huge swathes of agricultural land planted with grains cannot be harvested because of lack of fuel. “There are more than 6,000 families whose livelihood depends on having the crops harvested as soon as possible,” he said.
Iraq faces acute fuel shortages and its refineries which met domestic needs under the former regime of Saddam Hussein are working much below capacity, forcing the authorities to import huge volume to meet demand.
Labels: farmers, fuel shortages, Kut, Wassit
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Teachers in Wassit threaten to go on strike
Security
(VOI) - Teachers in the southern Iraqi province of Wassit threatened, on Wednesday, to suspend working at schools in the province in early April if no salary rise is given, head of teachers union in Wassit said. "Teachers in the teachers union will suspend working at schools on April 1st if no measures are taken to improve their living conditions, including a salary raise," Fadhel Abbas Majid told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Teachers in Iraq are given an average of monthly pay of approximately 300,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $200) in a country where house rent eats up to 150,000 Iraqi dinars. He added, "we also demand a new pay scale that takes into account years of experience and allowances, and offers allowances to cover transportation to and from the school. "The teachers union, a civil society organization, was established in 2004. Most teachers in Wassit province, 180 km southeast of Baghdad, are members of it.
Labels: strikes, teachers, Wassit
