Apricot orchards in Anbar struggle to recover as farmers face pests, frost, and low yields

ANBAR — Once a signature of Saqlawiyah’s agricultural landscape, the apricot orchards in the Lazamat al-Shabandar area west of Fallujah were a vital source of income for local families. Destroyed during the war with ISIS, many orchards have been replanted in recent years, but farmers say recovery remains slow, with the latest harvest hit hard by late-season frost and persistent climate challenges.

“When we returned to the orchards, we found them destroyed and burned from what happened during the ISIS period,” said Toffeeq Mohammed Mousa, a farmer from Saqlawiyah. “But thank God, we began replanting little by little, and they’ve started to improve — though they’re not like they were before.”

Mousa said his orchard once held 500 to 600 trees, but now has fewer than 200. He’s been working to expand gradually. “Last season was better than this one,” he said. “There were fewer diseases before. Now, we’re dealing with several pests, including one known locally as ‘Salbooh’” — an insect that damages fruit trees.

He said their apricots were once shipped to Baghdad and other areas but are now mostly sold in Fallujah and Ramadi, and in smaller quantities. “The climate just doesn’t help, and production has dropped,” he said.

The main varieties grown include Zayti, Harfi, and Khayri. “Zayti, especially the larger kind, is considered the best quality,” Mousa said. “Harfi is better than the common Khayri variety in the market now. It’s smaller and smoother.”

The Lazamat area has been farmed by local families for generations, Mousa said, but farmers receive little government support. “We inherited this land from our fathers and grandfathers, but unfortunately, we don’t receive any support from the government,” he said.

This year’s challenges were worsened by a sharp cold snap and low rainfall. “Even though we tried to control the pests, the weather still affected production,” he said.

Farmers are currently selling their crops to wholesalers for 1,250 to 1,500 Iraqi dinars per kilogram — about 88 cents to $1.06 — while consumers pay around 2,500 dinars, or $1.76, in the market. “Very few farmers still plant ten or twenty dunums,” Mousa said. “It’s tough for all of us.”