Diwaniyah pioneers new mechanized amber rice cultivation to halve growing time and conserve water

DIWANIYAH — The Agricultural Guidance Center in Al-Mahnawiyah district, Diwaniyah, has launched an innovative approach to cultivating Iraq’s renowned amber rice by distributing mature rice seedlings to farmers free of charge. This initiative, intended to cut the traditional four-month growing period down to two, employs mechanized transplanting. Under this method, rice seedlings grow outside the field for two months before transplanting, significantly reducing water consumption.

In the mechanized process, seedlings are initially cultivated in fertilizer-enriched trays for two months, requiring minimal water. They are then transferred to fields at the start of August. The center anticipates that this approach will lower water usage, pesticide costs, and labor requirements, ultimately leading to a shorter, more efficient, and profitable growing season.

Amber rice, traditionally planted in June and harvested in October, is known for its aromatic quality, often reserved for special events. In Iraqi dialect, “amber” signifies any sweet-smelling fragrance.

At a recent agricultural conference in Al-Mahnawiyah, officials, agricultural experts, and local farmers gathered to discuss advancements in Diwaniyah’s rice cultivation. Topics included the introduction of improved seed varieties and the potential benefits of mechanized transplanting to increase efficiency.

Zainab Abdul-Kadhim, a member of the Diwaniyah provincial council, shared with 964media that the center’s free seedling distribution in Al-Mahnawiyah would be limited in scope initially, allowing for a test of farmers’ response. “Based on our discussions at the conference, mechanized farming offers substantial benefits, reducing the rice-growing season from four months to two,” Abdul-Kadhim noted.

She further explained that this system enables farmers to plant in early August and harvest by October. Mechanized transplanting not only decreases water needs but also reduces herbicide requirements due to the cleaner state of the seedlings provided.

Farmers attending the conference advocated for better herbicides, increased rice prices, and compensation for drought-related losses over the past four years, which had constrained their planting capacity.

Agricultural engineer Ahmed Sami addressed the reluctance of some farmers to adopt mechanized transplanting, despite its proven benefits in areas like Diwaniyah and Mishkhab, where productivity has been maintained or increased. “The Iraqi farmer continues to rely on traditional rice farming methods inherited from his ancestors, even though modern agricultural techniques have been widely adopted globally for decades,” Sami stated.

He explained that mechanized transplanting enables seedlings to develop in trays outside the field with minimal water before being accurately transplanted in August. This system reduces seed loss, lowers labor and water costs, and increases profitability, presenting a sustainable path forward for Iraqi rice cultivation.