Egyptian gardener earns lasting praise for transforming Diyala’s farmland

DIYALA — In the town of Khan Bani Saad, southeast of Baqubah, the name Mahmoud Al-Masri is known to nearly every resident. Locals regard him as the area’s most trusted expert in gardening and agriculture, credited with turning barren plots into productive farmland using techniques he brought from Egypt more than 30 years ago.

“I’m from the Arab Republic of Egypt and came to Iraq in 1989,” said Mahmoud Abdel Qotb, who is widely known by his nickname. “I was a teacher in Egypt, and when I arrived in Iraq, I was appointed as a teacher at 17 Tammuz School in Khan Bani Saad, where I stayed for three years.”

Born in 1959, Qotb later left the education sector to pursue his passion for agriculture, a decision he said was driven by both personal interest and economic opportunity. “I turned to farming because Iraq has wide opportunities in agriculture, and for me, the income is better than teaching.”

He has lived in the same town ever since and never returned to Egypt. In 2013, he married an Iraqi woman, and the couple now has four children: Ali, Mohammed, Rabab and Mustafa.

“Now I work in gardens, orchards and parks,” he said. “I have experience in installing irrigation ponds, arranging parks, pest control and applying fertilizers and pesticides for both summer and winter seasons.”

Qotb said he developed his foundational skills in Egypt, then refined them through years of hands-on work in Iraq with access to more tools and equipment.

Rashid Mahmoud, a local resident, described him as a pillar of the agricultural community. “Mahmoud Al-Masri, or as we call him ‘Abu Ali,’ has been here for decades. As garden and farm owners, we rely on his expertise. When he steps into a garden, it transforms completely,” he said.

“There are plants we’ve tried growing that would always die or were out of season, but he knows the right time to plant and how to treat them properly,” he added. “When we cultivate with his help, our orchards produce far more — even vegetables, ponds and lawns. He’s truly skilled in his field.”

“He is a trusted figure, and many of the farms in Khan Bani Saad exist because of his knowledge and precision,” Rashid said. “His financial situation isn’t great, perhaps because he’s not always paid what he deserves, but he’s done so much for Diyala governorate and Khan Bani Saad in particular. He deserves much more.”