Tomato farmers face labor shortages, falling prices

BASRA – Farmers in Safwan, a town near the Iraq-Kuwait border known for producing tomatoes and garlic, say they are struggling with a shrinking workforce, rising costs, and declining crop prices, prompting some to consider abandoning agriculture altogether.

Yasser Jassab, a farmer from Nasiriyah, said he moved to Safwan with his children after drought conditions made farming unsustainable in Dhi Qar governorate.

“I brought my children with me to work in the tomato fields, and they had to leave school because of it,” he told 964media. Jassab said cultivation takes up to eight months, yet his share of profits is minimal. “At the time of sale, prices collapse. A box of tomatoes sells for just 2,000 IQD ($1.40), and we cover the costs of fertilizers and supplies from the black market.”

Ajil Al-Musharrafawi, another farmer in Safwan, said labor shortages are becoming unbearable. “We used to rely on Egyptian workers who stayed for months and worked diligently,” he said. “Now, we cannot find workers, and without government support, we cannot continue.”

Farhan Okla, a longtime farm owner, said conditions today are vastly different from those his father faced decades ago. “My father was a farmer since 1967. We once owned 13 farms, and production was directed to the state,” he said.

He added that tomato prices have dropped dramatically over time. “A box sold for between 6,000 and 20,000 IQD ($4 to $14) in some seasons. Now it sells for 2,000 IQD ($1.40).”

With minimal state support and continued financial losses, many farmers said agricultural lands in the area have been sold off and repurposed. “Previously, farms were protected and dedicated to agriculture, but today, because of poor conditions, many have been sold,” Okla said.