Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

Drought threatens amber rice crops in Iraq

  • By Al Mayadeen Author
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 May 2022 15:10
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

In a country full of water resources, drought is threatening a prized cultivation, amber rice.

  • x
  •  An Iraqi farmer plants amber rice in the Mishkhab region, central Iraq. (AFP)
    An Iraqi farmer plants amber rice in the Mishkhab region, central Iraq. (AFP)

Growing amber rice in Iraq has been a tradition due to its aromatic basis of rich lamb and other dishes, and being an essential element in an excruciating economy; however, it is presently threatened by drought.

Amber rice is mainly used in Iraqi meals such as mansaf, the lavish lamb qouzi, and stuffed vegetables.

Nonetheless, three years of drought and a declining rainfall have forced consumers to look for imported varieties, which left farmers pondering their future.

"We live off this land," said Abu Rassul, living in a village in Najaf, adding, "Since I was a child I have planted amber rice."

"Water enables us to plant every year," he noted, but this year, the situation is different.

According to Shaker Fayez Kadhim, Najaf's water resources manager, the country's available water reserves "are well below our critical level of 18 billion cubic metres (4.8 trillion gallons)," he told AFP.

The Agriculture Ministry stated that in early May, officials restricted total rice crop areas to 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres), in Najaf and Diwaniyah only.

Related News

Falling birth rates threaten living standards in rich nations: FT

Russia's GDP increases 5% in 5 months despite 'outside' interference

Read more: Iraq’s Agriculture Reaps the Despoiled Seeds of US Meddling

A top official in the ministry's planning department said that Iraq's annual production of rice had been 300,000 tonnes (tons).

Seeing the current situation, one would be surprised to believe that Iraq is famous for being the "country of the two rivers," the Tigris and the Euphrates, which are two legendary water sources. In these two rivers, the supply of water has been declining for years, causing Iraq to be classified as one of the five most vulnerable areas to climate change effects and desertification.

Looking at the consequences, we can't but notice they are dire: depleted rivers, declining crop yields, and more intense sandstorms.

The worst is yet to come

Kadhim informs that the Euphrates has declined to about one-third of its normal level. He believes "political action" must take place to get more water flowing.

"There is a risk of seeing rice cultivation disappear for lack of water," Ahmed Hassoun, the president of the Najaf farmers' association said, blaming authorities.

"We know Iraq will have a shortage of rain in the coming years," he added, complaining that despite that, nothing has been done to "modernise the irrigation system."

Hassoun said that the country has become "a market for all its neighbours", and last year, its own agricultural sector contracted by 17.5 % "following severe droughts, energy outages, and the rising global price of inputs", as per the World Bank.

The World Food Programme reports that agriculture is the second-largest contributor to Iraq's GDP and employs about 20% of the workforce.

  • GDP
  • World Food Programme
  • Iraq
  • Climate change
  • Tigris River
  • Drought
  • Agriculture
  • Euphrates
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS