Iraq Decides to Reduce 50% of the Area Planned for Cultivation in the Winter Season Plan
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Iraq is among the countries where Global Warming is taking the worst toll. Rising desertification and consequent land salination is the main concern.
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Iraq is currently facing a dire water crisis(REUTERS)
The Iraqi Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources decided that the area planned for cultivation in the winter season will be reduced by 50% in comparison with last year, due to the lack of water sources.
As quoted by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Sunday, the ministries divulged that they have "approved the winter agricultural plan, with an area of 2.5 million acres, and a 50% reduction compared to last year, due to the lack of water sources."
Iraqi President: the climate crisis has become an existential threat to our future
Iraqi President Barham Salih, confirmed the issue last week saying that Iraq "has become the fifth most fragile country in the world in terms of water and food shortages and extreme temperatures." Saleh added that "our water deficit is expected to reach 10.8 billion cubic meters by 2035 in A time when our financial income from oil is declining as the world abandons oil and relies more on clean energy.”
5/1 نُثمن تصويت مجلس الوزراء الموقر على مشروع #انعاش_بلاد_الرافدين المُقدم من رئاسة الجمهورية لتكون اطارا لتطوير الاستراتيجية البيئية ومواجهة خطر #التغير_المناخي في البلد.
— Barham Salih (@BarhamSalih) October 6, 2021
ان ازمة المناخ باتت تشكل تهديدا وجوديا لمستقبلنا، من الضروري الانطلاق الآن، ولا مجال للتقاعس. pic.twitter.com/dPK3kza77z
He stressed that "the climate crisis has become an existential threat to our future. It is necessary to start now."
The President highlighted that “desertification affects 39% of Iraq’s area, and that 54% of its agricultural lands are at risk of loss due to salinization and water scarcity in the Tigris. The Euphrates - the lifeblood of our country, which led to the encroachment of the salt tongue towards the upper Shatt al-Arab."
Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture: Oil companies should allocate resources to increase afforestation
The spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture Hamid Al-Nayef, announced last year that the country needs about 14 billion trees to eradicate desertification, which has reached significant levels. It suggested that oil companies allocate 1% of their revenue to increase afforestation of the areas in which they operate, to achieve part of the green belts program.
According to a report on climate change issued by the Iraqi presidency, "7 out of 40 million Iraqis were affected by drought and forced displacement."
