Iraq launches project to produce center-pivot irrigation systems

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khaled Battal, inaugurated a new project on Sunday aimed at producing center pivot irrigation systems, with a production capacity of 1,800 units per year. Battal announced that three factories will be operational within the next five years to meet Iraq’s demand for these essential irrigation systems.

During a press conference, Battal stated, “We have launched the project for producing center pivot irrigation systems with an annual capacity of 1,800 units.” He emphasized that this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to provide farmers with efficient irrigation solutions and improve water management in agriculture.

“This is the second project of its kind, following the first one that was inaugurated last year in Babil,” he added.

Battal underscored the country’s urgent need for irrigation systems to address the ongoing water crisis. “The water shortage must be addressed through a long-term plan for governorates with sufficient land and groundwater,” he explained. “No irrigation system will be installed without approval from the Ministry of Water Resources, which is developing future plans to manage water resources and ensure the sustainability of groundwater for future generations.”

He mentioned that two batches of systems have already been delivered to the Ministry of Agriculture, with 500 units in the first batch and 1,500 in the second. A third factory, set to be launched by Al-Faris Company, will bring the total to three production facilities. “These three factories will fully meet Iraq’s needs for center pivot irrigation systems over the next five years,” he stated.

Authorities have emphasized that the widespread adoption of modern irrigation methods is crucial to addressing Iraq’s escalating water crisis, particularly in the agricultural sector, as the country faces severe challenges from climate change. Iraq’s agriculture is under increasing pressure, with average temperatures rising by 1.5°C since the 1980s, and the United Nations predicting a 50% reduction in water availability by 2030.

On August 7, 2024, the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture announced it had successfully cultivated 988,000 acres of desert land last season using center pivot irrigation systems and groundwater.

In a further effort to combat the crisis, on September 30, 2024, Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, announced the launch of a pipeline-based irrigation project in collaboration with Turkey and Iran, leveraging their technical expertise and capabilities.