Entrepreneur turns palm waste into organic fertilizer to boost local agriculture

ANBAR — In the village of Haytan, west of Hit in Anbar governorate, Omar Iyad is turning dried palm fronds and other plant waste into organic fertilizer — a low-cost, chemical-free product that is gaining attention from farmers and agricultural experts in the region.

Rather than burning leftover material from orchards and gardens, local farmers now deliver it to Iyad, who processes it using cutting machines before beginning a fermentation phase that lasts up to two months. The resulting fertilizer is used to improve soil health and strengthen crop growth.

“The idea for the project started when I noticed the high prices of organic fertilizer in the market, some of which was imported,” Iyad told 964media. “After personal research and experimentation, I found a way to produce fertilizer from locally available plant waste, especially palm remnants and other agricultural leftovers.”

The production process begins with collecting and shredding the waste, followed by fermentation lasting six to eight weeks. “After that, we purify the material and remove any undecomposed parts for reprocessing,” he said.

Iyad’s facility produces between 10 and 15 tons of fertilizer every two months and currently sells it within Anbar. He hopes to expand distribution to other governorates and eventually export to international markets.

The fertilizer is available in two types — peat moss and compost — both praised by agricultural specialists for improving soil quality compared to chemical alternatives.

“We sell a 30-liter bag for 6,000 dinars [$4.23], and a 20-liter bag for 4,000 dinars [$2.82],” Iyad said.