Dhi Qar complains about the reduction of its agricultural plan: it declined by 40% compared to last

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[size=52]Dhi Qar complains about the reduction of its agricultural plan: it declined by 40% compared to last year[/size]

[size=45]Dhi Qar / Hussein Al-Amel[/size]
[size=45]At a time when the local administration in Dhi Qar announced a 40% reduction in the areas of the agricultural plan compared to the previous year, a professional association revealed that farmers were exposed to severe economic damage as a result of this reduction and the water crisis.[/size]
[size=45]The director of the Department of Agriculture in Dhi Qar, Saleh Hadi, said in an interview with (Al-Mada), that "the agricultural plan and its determinants depend on the availability of the water share."[/size]
[size=45]Hadi added, "The Department of Agriculture submits its proposed plan to the federal authorities," pointing out that "the approval of this plan is done through a joint committee from the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources, according to the available water share."[/size]
[size=45]And he pointed out, "The share of Dhi Qar governorate determined from the agricultural plan for this year amounts to 135 thousand dunums of the total agricultural plan for the whole of Iraq, which amounts to one million and 500 thousand dunums."[/size]
[size=45]Hadi pointed out that "the Department of Agriculture suggested that the plan include 493 thousand, but the proposed areas were reduced to 135 thousand dunums, or 70%," attributing "the decline in the areas of the agricultural plan year after year to the exacerbation of the water crisis and scarcity."[/size]
[size=45]He noted, "The approved agricultural share will be distributed to grow wheat, barley and leafy vegetables."[/size]
[size=45]And Hadi continued, "The staff of the Department of Agriculture are currently working on preparing a program to distribute it at the level of one farmer, according to specific schedules and criteria that take into account the availability of the water share or not."[/size]
[size=45]And he believed, "The approved plan does not meet the ambition and does not achieve self-sufficiency for the governorate, which is inhabited by two million and 300 thousand people."[/size]
[size=45]And Hadi continues, "The agricultural plan decision for this year was made by 60% of what was implemented in the last agricultural season."[/size]
[size=45]And he stated, “The plan for last year was 219 thousand dunams, and it was reduced to 135 thousand dunams, and this constitutes a decrease of 40%.”[/size]
[size=45]And Hadi continues, “The plan for the last season was basically a 50% discount from the previous season.”[/size]
[size=45]Earlier, the Dhi Qar Agriculture Directorate revealed that buffalo death rates had reached 4,000 heads, and attributed this to the drying up of 98% of the area of ​​the governorate’s marshes, and it talked about the death of more than 2,550 heads of cows and sheep, and it talked about the death of all fish stocks and the transformation of hundreds of fishermen to the unemployed.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the head of the Union of Agricultural Associations in Dhi Qar, Hussein Al Ribat, stated that "reducing the areas of the agricultural plan had a negative impact on the lives of farmers and their overall economic conditions."[/size]
[size=45]And Al-Rabat continued, in an interview with (Al-Mada), that “the farmers suffered heavy losses; Because of the water crisis, and this requires emergency government solutions to save farmers from the repercussions and effects of drought.[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "large agricultural areas are deserted due to drought, and orchards are exposed to great damage, death and destruction of thousands of herds of livestock, not to mention the drying of the marsh areas."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Rabat pointed out that "the farmer has finished, the agricultural areas have declined significantly, and the water crisis is worsening year after year."[/size]
[size=45]He finds, "Dhi Qar Governorate is agriculturally afflicted, and the required solutions should take into account the deteriorating economic and living conditions of farmers who have lost their only source of livelihood."[/size]
[size=45]The Rabat family called for "fair distribution of water, compensation for farmers and livestock breeders for the heavy losses they incurred, and the inclusion of farmers who were deprived of agriculture and everyone who lost their jobs due to drought with a social protection grant."[/size]
[size=45]And he stressed, "the importance of addressing the water crisis through negotiation with the upstream countries to secure an adequate water share for the country," blaming successive governments for "the responsibility for not guaranteeing Iraq's water share."[/size]
[size=45]And Al-Rabat went on to say that "the farmers are now bearing the consequences of the mistakes and failures of successive Iraqi governments in managing the water file," calling for "accounting for all those who failed to manage the water file and caused the deterioration of the agricultural sector."[/size]
[size=45]Earlier this month, civil society organizations called on the local and central governments to adopt an emergency plan to support the local population, especially farmers and livestock owners, and help them bear the heavy damage and losses they incurred, stressing at the same time the need for urgent intervention to reduce the risks of the water crisis and support farmers and owners. Livestock by providing subsidized fodder and securing alternative sites where water and plants are available until the water returns to revive the marshes, in addition to including those who lost their job opportunities due to drought with a social protection grant.[/size]
[size=45]Agricultural lands and marshlands constitute about half of the area of ​​Dhi Qar Governorate, as the marshes alone occupy a fifth of the governorate’s area, and they are distributed among ten administrative units out of 22 included in the governorate.[/size]
[size=45]Last August, the Union of Peasant Associations in Dhi Qar called on the local and central governments to declare the governorate an agricultural disaster, and demanded the adoption of an urgent emergency plan to help farmers and livestock owners affected by the drought, and while confirming that 80% of agricultural crops and dates were damaged, it revealed the migration and displacement of thousands of families. Al-Falahia to the centers of cities and other provinces.[/size]
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