Euphrates River farmers revive traditional tobacco crop amid calls for factory support

KARBALA – Farmers in western Karbala are reviving the cultivation of traditional tobacco used in waterpipes, growing it as a natural alternative to imported, industrially processed flavored products. The crop is concentrated in fertile areas near the Euphrates River, particularly in Shatt Allah and Al-Oweij, around 25 kilometers east of Karbala.

“Tobacco was introduced here after World War I through India, and it thrived due to the district’s fertile soil,” said farmer Ahmed Talib. “It’s a labor-intensive crop that we inherited from our fathers and grandfathers.” He noted that some farmers have begun growing an American variety that offers a higher yield per acre, though it’s considered less flavorful than the older Indian strain.

The cultivation cycle lasts more than 10 months, beginning in December with seedling preparation in climate-controlled environments. The seedlings are transplanted into open fields by mid-February. “The plant goes through several stages—thinning, pruning, trimming—before it’s ready to harvest in mid-June,” said farmer Adel Hasnawi.

After harvesting, the leaves are dried in the field, separated from the stems, and soaked in saltwater to prevent mold. “This process can preserve the leaves for up to 15 years,” Hasnawi said. He added that the leaves are covered for a week, then packed and sold by October. “I grow six acres. Each acre produces around three tons, and the price per ton is 3.6 million dinars,” or about $2,553.

Tobacco cultivation in the area once spanned 3,000 acres but dropped to just 25 after 2003, when cheaper imported products flooded the market and local processing factories were shut down.

“Tobacco here is used directly in waterpipes,” Talib said. “Other countries developed factories to turn it into flavored tobacco, but we don’t have that. Without a factory, demand declined.”

The crop requires consistent irrigation and costs over 1.5 million dinars—around $1,064—per acre to grow, including fertilizers and maintenance.

Ali Naour, head of the Agricultural Associations Union in Hindiya, said the crop remains economically viable if supported. “We consider this type of tobacco valuable, especially in al-Jadwal al-Gharbi,” he said. “We call on the government to support farmers and reopen tobacco processing plants to help absorb the harvest.”