BASRA, Iraq - The Iraqi province of Basra is experiencing a devastating drought, causing a myriad of date palm trees, Iraq’s national icon, to dry up, forcing farmers to give up working the land.
Iraq had 33 million date palm trees 70 years ago, according to data from the Iraqi agriculture ministry. Half of this number has dried up over time due to the severe climate change and the deterioration of the water quality in the oil and the date-rich Basra.
Date farmer Ayad Mohammed, 45, told Rudaw's Haydar Doski on Wednesday that he is unhappy with the products that his date palm trees have given him this season.
Once a source of livelihood, the land Mohammed used to profit from is slowly dying.
The sharp decline in date products in Iraq is contributed to climate change and the old age of palm trees, many of which have exceeded a century.
According to data from the International Bank, date is Iraq's second largest product, after oil. In 2021, Iraqi exported 600,000 tons of dates which were worth $120 million.
Basra endures the repercussions of water scarcity and the high temperatures the season brings.
In addition to bad water management in Iraq, neighboring Iran is also to blame for the scarcity, as Tehran in recent years has reduced the amount of water flowing into the country.
Despite being home to the Tigris, the Euphrates, and the Shatt al-Arab, as well as three ports, Basra technically has plenty of water access, but it still cannot provide clean water for drinking or for its agriculture.
Water quality tests have shown that the province's resources are not suitable for drinking and locals have been advised not to use them.
In 2018, more than 100,000 people were hospitalized in Basra after drinking polluted water.
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