The Hand in Hand Initiative: Multi-criteria evaluation suitability assessments

Fourteen new datasets about Iraq have been published under the Hand in Hand Initiative, which uses geospatial analysis to boost rural incomes, reduce vulnerabilities, and promote sustainable agricultural development. The initiative targets poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and inequality by identifying opportunities for agricultural transformation and rural growth. Suitability assessments for agrifood systems infrastructure have been conducted in over 60 countries, covering crops, livestock, and fish farming. These assessments use GIS Multi-criteria Evaluation (MCE), combining geospatial data and weighted decision factors.

The new datasets focus on Iraq and include:

• Suitable locations of slaughterhouses and dairy processing facilities for cattle, goats, and sheep.
• Recommended locations for crop storage of fruits and vegetables.
• Accessibility mapping to major ports and cities.

These datasets aim to support better planning and decision-making for agrifood infrastructure development.

More info about the data at: https://data.apps.fao.org/?lang=en&share=f-f5a5db9d-1678-45dc-8e28-399769721a8c