Rice planting in Najaf overshoots the ministry’s approved area

NAJAF — Rice cultivation in parts of Najaf governorate has reached about 100% of planned areas despite the Ministry of Water Resources approving cultivation on only 80% of farmland, prompting the government to pledge additional water supplies for the growing season.

Water Resources Minister Muthanna al-Tamimi announced the measures Saturday during a visit to Najaf, saying field surveys showed some areas planted to nearly full capacity as farmers moved to make up for three years of restricted summer farming. The ministry would work to supply the water those areas now require, he said.

Tamimi said the summer plan had been drawn up after storage levels improved, with Najaf and Diwaniyah prioritized for rice, but that obstacles had since emerged. He announced the appointment of a ministry director general to supervise water management in Najaf directly and oversee fieldwork, and said river dredging, begun more than a week ago, would be expanded along with efforts to clear water hyacinth.

The bigger challenge, he said, was management rather than supply.

“The current allocations are similar to what they were in 2021, perhaps even better, but we need better organization and to prevent violations of water allocations, whether within the governorate or between governorates,” Tamimi said at a news conference.

He attributed the improving outlook to heavier releases from Turkey and fuller reservoirs in Syria, citing recent talks with a Syrian delegation and an existing memorandum of understanding with Ankara. He said the prime minister was expected to visit Turkey to complete water-file understandings.

Najaf Gov. Youssef Kanawi pushed back on the planting figure, saying local authorities had stuck to the approved limit.

“We had adopted a plan to cultivate 80% of the areas, not 100% as is being circulated,” Kanawi said. “We hope the minister’s visit will help solve most of the existing problems.”

The minister’s visit to the Mishkhab regulator also drew protests from farmers seeking increased water releases for this year’s rice crop after years of restrictions.