In Basra’s harsh climate, rare Ibrahimi apple thrives where others fail

BASRA — While Basra’s suffocating summer humidity poses challenges to daily life and agriculture, it has unexpectedly created ideal conditions for a rare and locally cherished apple variety known as Ibrahimi — also called Sharabi or Amarah apples. Unlike Turkish, Lebanese, or red apple varieties, which may grow but fail to bear fruit in southern Iraq, the bright white Ibrahimi apple thrives in the northern Basra town of Al-Nashwa.

Farmer Naji Al-Mayyahi, who began cultivating the variety on an experimental basis, said the results exceeded expectations. “Ibrahimi apple trees, also known as Amarah apples, are the only type among several that succeeded in Basra,” he told 964media. “Other types like Turkish or Lebanese apples grow, but they don’t produce fruit.”

Al-Mayyahi planted just three trees initially. “Beyond their economic value, they’re beautiful evergreen trees. Their fruits are loved by children, who eat them eagerly,” he said. “The apple is widely used in pickling and is considered one of the best varieties for that purpose.”

He added that the tree’s drought resistance makes it especially valuable. “I planted one tree and left it without water for a full month — it stayed green and showed no signs of stress,” he said. The trees also grow quickly, producing abundant fruit and foliage without the use of fertilizers, though he recommends planting them among taller trees like palms to shield them from desert winds.

Haidar Ahmed, head of horticulture in Al-Nashwa, confirmed the variety’s success in the region. “The Ibrahimi or Sharabi apple is now commonly planted in Basra. It used to be limited to central Iraq, but farmers here have started cultivating it in their orchards,” he said.

Ahmed explained that the apple flourishes in Basra’s humid climate when planted in protected areas or among other trees. “Ibrahimi apples can be propagated in multiple ways — through cuttings, terminal shoots, and seeds — as long as the right humidity and temperature are available,” he said.