The agricultural plan decreased by 50%.

Drought and war in Ukraine cloud the wheat season in Iraq

Kamel Hamed works on his farm.

AFP

Farmer Kamel Hamid looks with apprehension and concern at the swaying golden wheat fields in central Iraq. This year, the 50-year-old's crop fell in half due to drought and lack of water.

As if drought alone was not enough, the war in Ukraine and the rise in the prices of fuel, seeds and fertilizers have cast a shadow, since February, on the agricultural sector in Iraq, with the increase in production costs.

The man, who wore a traditional white dress and a keffiyeh, near the village of Jleiha said: "Currently there is an abnormal drought. Even wells do not exist, and salty water comes out of them."

This year, due to the shortage of water, Iraq decided to halve its cultivated areas, and thus the amount of crops declined.

Hamed planted a quarter of the 100 acres of agricultural land he owns.

In his field, the harvester cycles back and forth to cut the ripening plants, then transports the grain on the back of a truck.

"This year, the dunam did not provide even 500 kilograms" of wheat, says the 53-year-old farmer, while in previous seasons it saved one ton.

The man is also aware of the impact of the war in Ukraine on the situation of Iraqi farmers.

He says that it "affected the high prices of motor oil in local markets, and this added another financial burden on farmers."

The farmer will migrate

Water scarcity remains the main factor stressing Iraq's agricultural sector and the country's 41 million population.

They gradually feel the impact of climate change on their lives, starting with desertification, frequent dust storms, declining precipitation and lowering river levels.

The water issue is also an important strategic issue, as Iraq shares the waters of its two historical rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, with Turkey, Syria and Iran.

Baghdad repeatedly denounces the construction of dams by its neighbors, which reduces its share.

The Euphrates River passes through Al-Diwaniyah Governorate, where the village of Jleiha is located, and feeds it with 180 cubic meters of water per second.

But this season, as the head of the Water Users Associations, Hani Shair, explains, “it reached 80 cubic meters per second.”

This drought is evidenced by the decline in the waters of the Al-Thurima irrigation project, which feeds an area of ​​200,000 acres of agricultural land.

Some streams have dried up completely.

Zero cultivation

For his part, the spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Hamid Al-Nayef, talks about the authorities raising the selling prices of wheat to pay farmers about $500 per ton.

In turn, the Director of Diwaniyah Agriculture, Hassan Al-Waeli, explains to "AFP" that during the years 2019 and 2020, the amount of wheat that was produced reached five million tons, which ensured Iraq's "self-sufficiency" of this vital product.

But this season, Al-Waeli explains that "due to these changes, water scarcity and climatic changes... all of this led to a 50% reduction in the agricultural plan."

The country is expected to produce between 2.5 to 3 million tons of wheat.

Iraq will also be affected by global market fluctuations and price hikes due to the war in Ukraine, although Baghdad imports wheat from Canada, Australia and the United States.

Al-Nayef explains, “With the acceleration of the Russian-Ukrainian war, prices are rising even in the United States and other countries, (against the background of) supply and demand.”

The 30-year-old farmer told AFP: "I left school and went to farming," but "this year, agriculture was zero."

Last year, he marketed 500 tons of wheat, but this year his production will not exceed between 50 and 75 tons.

Because of the war in Ukraine, the prices of fertilizers and insecticides have risen.

The man adds, "With the lack of production for this year, it is likely that we will not be able to plant next year and the following seasons, especially because of the high prices."

• Iraq will be affected by global market fluctuations and price hikes due to the war in Ukraine, although Baghdad imports wheat from Canada, Australia and the United States.

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