Iraq eyes expanded summer farming after water release from Turkey

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture said Saturday that recent increases in water releases from Turkey could allow for expanded cultivation of summer vegetables and fodder crops, as part of the country’s national farming plan.

“The Ministry of Agriculture prepared the summer cultivation plan based on data provided by the Ministry of Water Resources,” ministry spokesperson Mahdi Sahar told state media. “At the time, water reserves were low, and this year has been a dry season.”

Sahar said that due to the limited reserves, the ministry initially approved just 1,000 dunams of rice cultivation, allocated exclusively to the Agricultural Research Department for preserving Amber and Jasmine seed varieties. Instead, the focus shifted to growing summer vegetables using modern irrigation techniques, especially drip systems.

“After receiving reports of increased water discharges from the Turkish side, we are awaiting their arrival and a rise in available reserves at the Ministry of Water Resources,” Sahar said. “This would make it possible to increase the designated area for summer vegetables and fodder crops, helping to support the agricultural sector and livestock production.”

The increase in water flows follows a recent meeting in Ankara, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to release 420 cubic meters of water per second into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers starting Wednesday. The decision came during a visit by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who led a delegation to discuss bilateral issues, with water access topping the agenda.

Following the meeting, al-Mashhadani received a phone call from Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş confirming the implementation of the water release. Al-Mashhadani thanked Turkish leaders and described Turkey as “an important neighbor to Iraq and its people.”