Heat-resistant fig varieties take root in Basra’s Al-Madina district

BASRA — Fig cultivation is gaining momentum in Basra’s Al-Madina district, where farmer Jasem Al-Jaafari has successfully introduced heat-tolerant fig varieties capable of thriving in the region’s extreme summer conditions.

“I brought six varieties of figs from Hilla, including Bani Muslim, Yellow Cypriot, Badhinjani, and the local Hilli,” Al-Jaafari told 964media. “These varieties are remarkably resistant to high temperatures, far outperforming the local fig, which can no longer withstand Basra’s harsh summer conditions.”

He said the Bani Muslim and Yellow Cypriot varieties are especially productive, bearing fruit twice a year — a trait that makes them economically attractive. “That makes the economic return promising,” he said.

Al-Jaafari was particularly impressed by the Cypriot fig, which continued to ripen even after its leaves had fallen and its branches had dried. To ensure success, he used drip irrigation and planted the fig trees beneath date palms to shield them from the sun. “Grafting the Cypriot fig onto the local variety was particularly successful,” he added.

The harvested figs are currently selling for about 5,000 dinars per kilogram in local markets.

“This return opens new opportunities for farmers in the area and encourages expanding cultivation of these economically viable varieties,” Al-Jaafari said.

Alaa Hussein, head of the agricultural division in Al-Madina, confirmed the project’s success. “The cultivation of these fig varieties has succeeded in the orchards of Al-Madina district and is spreading, especially under the shade of palm trees,” he said.

“This success encourages more farmers to adopt these varieties and techniques, supporting sustainable agricultural development in the governorate.”