Iraq expands agricultural lands as Turkey increases water flows
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mahdi Sahar, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that after receiving details about increasing water flows from Turkey, Iraq is waiting for water reserves to become larger so that it may add areas designated for the development of summer vegetable and fodder crops to assist agriculture and livestock production.
During a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to Iraq's request to increase the water delivery rate to 420 cubic meters per second to address the ongoing drought issue.
The step will increase water flows along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, delivering water to all Iraqis, particularly in the southern parts of the country that are experiencing drought and water shortages.
Since Turkey is the source of 90 percent of Iraq's water supplies, the two countries struck a strategic agreement on water management.
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