Drought and pests ravage southern Najaf farms as climate concerns escalate

NAJAF — As the world observes International Climate Change Day, farmers in southern Najaf warn that persistent drought and a surge in pest infestations are wreaking havoc on their crops, with little support from the government.

The Al-Mishkhab area, long known for its date palms and citrus orchards, has suffered repeated droughts since 2015. Farmers say the dry conditions have led to widespread crop failure and a sharp rise in pests attacking date palms, figs, citrus trees, and even stored rice.

“We’ve lost a lot of crops, especially dates, due to the drought and pests that appeared because of water shortages, including the Rhynchophorus ferrugineus that affects palm trees,” said Alaa Al-Zurfi, a farm owner in Al-Mishkhab.

“Citrus trees are suffering from fungi, and rats have spread widely. We’re forced to move stored rice from place to place to protect it,” he said. “We dig wells as deep as seven meters, but the water is not suitable even for farming.”

Farmers have reported a growing infestation of the red gerbil, an aggressive rodent that climbs trees and devours crops including pomegranates, figs, and dates. Others say palm spiders are spreading across orchards, laying eggs on date fruit. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the sap and destroy the fruit.

Walid Al-Thalmi, an environmental activist, said the drought crisis began in 2015 and was followed by the spread of palm spiders.

“The female spider lays eggs on the dates, and when they hatch, the young absorb the juice, ruining the harvest,” he said. “We get many complaints from orchard owners, and we use a two-stage treatment over seven days with a pesticide called Super Amectin.”

He described June as a critical month for growers. “If these pests are not treated in time, the entire crop could be lost,” he said. “Farmers buy pesticides out of their own pocket because there is no government support.”

Ali Al-Athari, another farmer, said the drought has forced him to truck water long distances. “We’ve been suffering from water shortages for four months, and I have to transport water over eight kilometers just to water the livestock,” he said.

“The red gerbil has destroyed everything — not a palm or garden is left. It eats everything,” Al-Athari added. “We are calling on the government to combat this pest and find a solution for the water shortage.”