Improving small ruminant productivity in Iraq Funding under this initiative provides support to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) initiative 'Improving small ruminant productivity in Iraq', that provides research for development to assist Iraq in increasing animal productivity through improved feed systems. Specifically, the initiative identifies and develops best-bet ways of increasing fodder production, which will then be disseminated to farming communities in Iraq. The key areas of investigation involved in this initiative include: the impacts of using more salt-tolerant forages; the impact of changed feeding regimes for livestock; the potential for rangeland rehabilitation; and the viability of value adding activities such as milk processing. The project has a specific pro-poor focus, identifying the impacts on individual livelihoods and the environment. The total value of this initiative is $3.0 million over 4 years, starting 2008-09.