Apart from internal political conflicts, which are important factors that usually repel foreign investments, unemployment in LDCs is high and the prospect to invest in the agricultural sector is always an effective strategy for employment generation. Investing in the relatively water- and land-rich LDCs of the region is aligned with the notion of global and regional social responsibility, while at the same time serving both to enhance regional food security and strengthen solidarity among countries of the region. High discrepancies have been noted between national, regional and global data sources. While AOAD reports an increase of sixfold in wheat cultivated land and an increase of 24 per cent in productivity during the period 2011-2012 in Iraq, leading to an increase in production by 306,000 tons, FAO reports a decrease of around 16 per cent in wheat harvested land and nearly 15 per cent in overall production.75 Both sources claim that the data originate from official sources.