Iraq approves winter farming plan, mandates modern irrigation amid water crisis

BAGHDAD — The Council of Ministers on Tuesday approved Iraq’s agricultural plan for the 2025–2026 winter season, authorizing cultivation across 1 million dunams (247,105 acre) using surface water, in addition to 3.5 million dunams (864,868 acres) already approved for groundwater.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s Media Office, the plan requires that wheat crops, whether irrigated by surface or groundwater, be cultivated using modern irrigation systems.

Iraq is facing its most severe water crisis in 80 years, with reserves at historic lows following another weak rainy season. Officials have attributed the shortages to climate change, prolonged drought, and upstream dam construction in Turkey and Iran.

Much of Iraq relies heavily on outdated irrigation techniques, exacerbating the crisis.

In June 2024, the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture announced it has allocated 835 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $637 million) for the purchase of 12,000 new water sprinkler irrigation systems.