Abstract
The research aims to shed light on the Cooperative Agricultural Bank as an independent variable and its impact on dependent variables represented by small and medium projects, as an applied research at the Agricultural Bank/Branch of Babil, based on the data provided by the bank during the research period. The research seeks to provide a clear picture of the reality and role of the agricultural bank in the province and how it supports agricultural projects through the loan stages that the bank went through during the research period. The importance of the research lies in analyzing the role of specialized banks in Iraq (the Agricultural Bank in Babil) in financing small and medium projects that contribute to solving economic and social problems, notably the problem of poverty resulting from low income and unemployment facing the province, and improving the individual's living standard, especially if appropriate support is provided and financing obstacles are addressed.The research problem revolves around whether there is a role for the Agricultural Bank - Babil Branch in supporting small and medium projects, under the hypothesis that the Agricultural Bank -Babil Branch has a positive role in supporting small and medium projects in the province. The research reached several conclusions, the most important of which was the presence of a weak causal relationship between the independent variable (loans to small farmers) provided by the Agricultural Bank/Babil Branch and the dependent variables represented by the number of small and medium projects. Also, no causal relationship was found between the independent variable (livestock loans) and the dependent variables, as well as (orchard establishment loans). Based on the findings, the research hypothesis, which states that the Agricultural Bank - Babil Branch had a positive role in supporting small and medium projects in the province and alleviating poverty, was rejected. As for the most prominent recommendations, they include the Agricultural Bank establishing a proper and effective mechanism for disbursing loan amounts by dividing them into several stages that align with the stages of establishing, developing, or operating agricultural projects or developing livestock, thus ensuring that the borrower implements the developmental projects to which those loans were directed.
