Amid water shortages and rising costs
Famed palm groves and orchards in Baghdad’s Rashidiya face decline
BAGHDAD — Rashidiya, a district in Baghdad celebrated for its lush palm groves and citrus orchards, is confronting severe agricultural challenges. Known as one of the most picturesque groves in Baghdad, and possibly all of Iraq, Rashidiya has been grappling with reduced water quotas since 2020, increasing diseases affecting fruit trees, and rising operational costs.
The district cultivates over 2,000 dunams (494 acres) of wheat and barley alongside its renowned palm groves. However, palm produce has plummeted, with yields dropping from six sacks to just two per tree. Jasim Mohammed, Deputy Head of the Farmers’ Associations Union, told 964media, “There has been a notable decline in palm cultivation interest, with land clearing occurring despite the area having thousands of dunams of palm and citrus farms.”
Labor shortages driven by increased costs have further diminished farmers’ incomes from palm cultivation. Mohammed emphasized that Rashidiya is home to various types of palms, including Barhi, Khistawi, Amrani, Maktoom, and Khadraoui. The district also follows the agricultural plan set by Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture, cultivating wheat and barley accordingly.
Despite a lack of accurate statistics on the marketed quantities of dates and citrus fruits, Rashidiya remains a vital supplier of these products to Baghdad.
Dawood Salman, a member of the Farmers’ Associations, highlighted that Rashidiya also produces apricots and apples, which were once exported to other provinces. He noted that diseases have severely impacted production in recent years, with no apple harvest gathered this year due to outbreaks. “We demand the reintroduction of aerial disease control from planting to harvest, avoiding personal interests,” Salman urged.
Salman also noted that the number of dates harvested has fallen drastically, from about six sacks to just two. Vegetable farming has similarly suffered due to disease outbreaks. He called for the rehabilitation of abandoned lands in Rashidiya and the Kamireh area, attributing the region’s agricultural decline to government neglect.
Riyadh Kazem Al-Ali, President of the Al-Intilaq Farmers Association, emphasized Rashidiya’s significance in palm production, particularly for the Assta Omran variety. He noted that the area produces large quantities of Barhi dates, supported by farmers’ efforts in fertilization and pest control. Al-Ali added that while Rashidiya was once a major exporter of Zahidi and Khistawi dates, these varieties are now sold directly to traders and in local markets due to a lack of processing facilities.
Ahmed Faleh, a farm manager in Rashidiya, mentioned that some farmers have adopted modern irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation and spraying. However, widespread adoption remains limited due to the high cost of materials. The ongoing water crisis, exacerbated by high temperatures, has further strained agriculture, with water being prioritized for residential use over agricultural lands in Rashidiya.
Akram Quraishi, an employee at the local Irrigation Division, reported violations along the river basin, including landfilling and unauthorized construction. He explained that the division monitors local pumps day and night during water cutoffs to ensure they do not disrupt the river’s flow. “We operate three stations — one south of Rashidiya and two to the north — with two pumps each, while the pumps at the Rashidiya Bazaiz in Fahama have one pump. The stations operate Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for 12 hours a day,” Quraishi said. Current water storage is at 18%, with the Tharthar basin serving as the main reservoir.
“We work under a rotational system introduced in the 1990s due to water scarcity, low rainfall, and climate change,” Quraishi added, noting that farmers often blame the irrigation division, though it can only pump water three days a week.
Latif Al-Tayyib, editor-in-chief of Rashidiya News Agency, reported that aerial palm pest control campaigns have resumed for the first time in years, yielding positive results and producing disease-free dates. However, farmers continue to face challenges in marketing their products due to competition from imports. The Ministry of Agriculture has agreed to farmers’ requests to change irrigation times from night to morning to mitigate the risks posed by wild boars in the fields.
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