Basil harvest begins in Nineveh, providing seasonal income for families

NINEVEH — In the fields of Sharikhan Al-Ulya, about 10 kilometers northwest of Mosul, basil harvesting is in full swing and will continue through early autumn, offering seasonal income for small-scale farmers and their families.

“Right now, I’m growing basil, which is planted only in the summer, specifically in the fifth month,” said Haitham Salem, a farmer from the village. “I was born in 1984 and work as a farmer in my village.”

Basil is not viable in open fields during winter months, Salem noted. “In winter, it doesn’t grow unless it’s planted in covered greenhouses.”

Harvesting typically begins in June and lasts through September or October. Salem’s 5,000-square-meter field employs three workers and supports four families.

“A bundle sells for between 70 to 80 dinars,” he said, or about 5 to 6 U.S. cents. That price is roughly half what similar bundles fetched in Basra last month.

Most of the crop is sold directly to shopkeepers who visit the farm. “Our customers mostly come to us directly,” he said. “The rest we take to Al-Maash Market in Hayy Al-Tanak and the Kokjaly Market. Since the start of this project, we haven’t sold outside Nineveh. Only within.”

Salem described the cultivation process as relatively simple. “We plow and prepare the soil, then plant the seeds. We have sprinklers, and seeds are available in the market. We plant for 20 days to a month before harvesting starts.”

Basil is a popular herb in northern Iraq, where it thrives in the summer heat. “Here in the north, we focus on growing basil, unlike many areas in the south where mint is preferred,” Salem said.