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Shafaq News
13 hours ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Turkiye water release offers little help for Iraqi farmers
Shafaq News - Baghdad On Sunday, Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture amended the country's summer cultivation plan in response to a recent agreement with Turkiye to increase water releases, though experts warn the benefits may be limited. Deputy Agriculture Minister Mahdi Sahar told Shafaq News that Iraq expects better water reserves for the upcoming winter season due to the increased flow, adding that farmers have been instructed to adopt drip irrigation techniques to conserve water. Additionally, water expert Ramadan Hamza told Shafaq News that Iraq has yet to reap 'significant' agricultural benefits from the additional water released by Turkiye. The impact will mostly improve water quality in the main flow of the Tigris River, but it won't meaningfully affect farming, as only a limited number of farmers remain active in a few areas. Although Turkiye has opened the gates of the Ilisu Dam, the actual release is lower than the reported 420 cubic meters per second due to gradual discharge protocols, he said, pointing out that Tigris River levels are expected to rise in the coming days, particularly in areas like Baghdad. Looking ahead, Hamza offered a cautiously optimistic forecast for the 2025–2026 season. 'Preliminary climate indicators suggest improved rainfall close to seasonal averages, with a high likelihood of snowfall and widespread cold fronts that could ease water storage.' Earlier, MP Thaer Mukhayef claimed Turkiye tied increased water releases to Iraq awarding dam projects to Turkish companies, warning of large-scale protests in areas suffering from drought.
Iraqi News
05-02-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq is among the top 30 in the world in olive cultivation
Baghdad - INA The Ministry of Agriculture announced today, Wednesday, the distribution of olive seedlings free of charge to government departments, and while indicating that Iraq is among the top 30 in the world in olive cultivation, it confirmed the trend towards increasing the varieties that are compatible with the Iraqi environment with high productivity. The administrative undersecretary of the ministry, Mahdi Sahar, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The ministry is working to produce industrial crops that preserve the environment and great interest through the Horticulture Department in establishing a national program to multiply types and varieties of fruits and olives." He added, "The program focuses on developing olives through high-oil olive varieties, varieties used as food, and dual-purpose varieties," explaining that "the program includes training and guidance courses for farmers and distributing various olive seedlings through the horticulture stations in the governorates to government departments as a gift." The administrative agent of the ministry stated that "the interest in olive production came due to its importance, especially since Iraq ranks ninth in the Arab world in terms of production, and among the top thirty in the world." Sahar concluded that "the current trend of the Ministry of Agriculture is towards increasing the cultivation of varieties that are compatible with the Iraqi environment with high productivity in oil and dual-purpose table oil."
