Drought in Iraq... compelling restrictions on agricultural water

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[size=52]Drought in Iraq... compelling restrictions on agricultural water[/size]

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The drought crisis is destroying crops in Iraq.
About 60% of farmers in many Iraqi governorates are suffering as a result of reducing cultivated areas and reducing the amounts of water used, according to a survey conducted by the non-governmental organization “Norwegian Refugee Council,” calling on the authorities to better manage water resources.
A survey conducted by the Council revealed that the income of some farmers increased in 2023 compared to 2022, attributing this to rainfall at a rate “higher than initial estimates,” which led to improved crop rates.[/size]
[size=45]The organization conducted the study during July and August in 4 Iraqi governorates, based on the results of the harvest and the impact of drought on families, during which it interviewed 1,079 people. 40% of the sample were women, and 94% of the respondents were residents of rural areas.[/size]
[size=45]During 2023, issues of “access to water” continued to “affect agricultural production,” according to the survey, which confirmed that “60% of farmers were forced to cultivate smaller areas of land or use smaller amounts of water due to harsh weather conditions” in the northern governorates of the country ( Nineveh, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din), and in Anbar, west of the country, according to what Agence France-Presse reported.
The organization confirmed, “4 out of every 5 people among those surveyed in agricultural communities in Nineveh and Kirkuk were forced to reduce their spending on food during the past 12 months.”[/size]
[size=45]The study was published days before the start of the Climate Conference of the Parties (COP28), which Dubai will host between November 30 and December 12.[/size]
[size=45]In light of the decreasing amount of rain and rising temperatures, Iraq is suffering from drought for the fourth year in a row. The Iraqi authorities denounce the dams built by Turkey and Iran on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which cause the levels of the two rivers and their tributaries to drop when they reach Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]However, the Norwegian Refugee Council also placed responsibility on “the management of water resources” in the country, especially “irrigation practices in Iraq and the inefficiency in using the diminishing water resources.”[/size]
[size=45]The organization’s report stated that “about 70% of the farmers surveyed” said “they use flood irrigation,” a method widely considered “the most water-intensive” and not suitable for areas “prone to seasonal drought,” according to Agence France-Presse.[/size]
[size=45]The Norwegian Refugee Council proposed improving agricultural potential through “monitoring, organizing and distributing water resources.”[/size]
[size=45]Director of the Council's National Office, Anthony Zelecki, warned that "Iraq's climate is changing faster than people's ability to adapt."[/size]
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