Diyala cauliflower and lettuce growers face low prices despite bumper crops

DIYALA — Farmers in Diyala governorate are continuing to harvest cauliflower, particularly in Khan Bani Saad subdistrict south of Baqubah, with fields in Al-Muradiyah village supplying cauliflower, lettuce and cabbage to markets in Baqubah, Baghdad and surrounding areas.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2022 statistics, Iraq produces more than 14,000 tons of cauliflower annually. This year, the ministry imposed an import ban starting in early December to protect local output, but farmers told 964media they fear imports could resume without warning, as has happened in previous seasons, leading to heavy financial losses.

Farmer Hadi said cauliflower is planted in July and August, during peak summer heat, adding to production challenges that are not reflected in current low market prices. The most popular varieties among Iraqi farmers include Al-Badr, Miga and Al-Soul.

Lettuce is the second most widely grown crop in the area. Farmer Ahmed Mustafa said many growers turn to lettuce to diversify their income, cultivating it from small seedlings. He said his uncle, Faleh Saleh, was among the first to introduce lettuce seeds to Al-Muradiyah in the 1990s.

Farmers source seeds from distributors in Jibla, northeast of Hilla, and say each dunam can produce around three tons of lettuce, with the harvest ending in early February.

They added that rainfall plays a critical role in quality, particularly in forming the round “tuba” lettuce heads. Well-timed rain helps the plants flourish, while rain or fog at full maturity can damage crops. Recent heavy rains have made it difficult for farmers to reach cauliflower, cabbage and lettuce fields.

Sami Sarhan, a member of the Farmers Association, said production is strong in Khan Bani Saad, Nahr Al-Bustan and Hibhib, “but profits do not match the effort and cost.”