Basra farmers say 40 farms bulldozed for industrial city project

BASRA — More than 40 farms in the Khor al-Zubair area southwest of Basra have been bulldozed for a large industrial city project, farmers say, with 20 people arrested after protesting the clearances — while the district commissioner says compensation is available for those with official contracts and the project is vital for the area’s economy.

The Basra Economic City project is being developed by an iron, steel and industrial investment company at a cost exceeding $100 million over 40 years under an official investment license on land belonging to the Ministry of Finance. Work began in 2007 but was delayed until September 2025.

In Iraq, agricultural contracts grant farmers the limited right to cultivate unused state-owned land under specific conditions, with ownership and planning rights remaining with the government. Compensation disputes frequently arise when investment projects overlap with long-established farmland.

Farmers told 964media they suffered losses exceeding 30 million dinars ($19,600) per farm without receiving compensation. They also allege the bulldozing expanded beyond the 904 dunams specified in the investment license to nearly 1,371 dunams, cutting roads and electricity lines serving several farms. Farmer Atwan Kadhim said the investor seized land “with no legal right to them,” destroying dozens of farms and cutting power, which killed large numbers of Christ’s thorn jujube and palm trees. Farmer Kadhim al-Sikini said his farm alone contained around 1,200 jujube trees and 180 palm trees, all of which died after irrigation was cut.

Farmer Mohammed Hassan said objections were met with “arbitrary measures” — he was arrested after questioning the company’s activities on land where he holds agricultural contracts and accused of attempted murder and extortion. Twenty protesters were arrested on similar charges and held for a month before being released on bail.

Al-Zubair District Commissioner Abbas Maher said meetings were held with farmers to explain compensation mechanisms and that those with official agricultural contracts would receive compensation from investors. “We do not accept any harm to farmers,” he said, while stressing the project would provide employment, a power station and integrated infrastructure. He said an asphalt plant operating in violation within the site had reached a legal understanding with investors.

Basra Agriculture Director Hadi Hussein told 964media the directorate “supports urban expansion and economic development projects” and that approvals for investment in desert areas are granted only after ensuring they do not conflict with valid agricultural contracts or actively used land.