Salination, drought threaten Iraq date palm industry – ‘All attempts are in vain’

BAGHDAD, 25 September 25 (AP) – After years of wars, sanctions and drought, farmer Qais Nima Khamis says it’s time to save the dates — and bring back Iraq’s long-regaled fruit palm industry, which once led the world market. Khamis, whose family has been growing the fruit since 1880, is growing hundreds of more date trees this year, aiming to double his grove to up to 1,500 palms. The government is taking its own action to revive Iraq’s lost golden age of dates, supporting farmers with loans and launching nurseries. It’s just a start, said the 40-year-old Khamis, but “Iraq is now open to all the world, the government started some steps and that has brought some hope.” […] Marhon Abid Falih, a date farmer south of Basra, would like to reap some of those profits. But he’s not sure the government can help. Iraq’s chronic problems over the decades — lacking of water, electricity, fuel, and storage — have forced many farmers to abandon cultivation and find another jobs like in the army or police. In 2002, Falih’s orchard in the Abu al-Khasib area south of Basra boasted as many as 200 date palm trees. He grew fruits and vegetables in their shade, and hired dozens of workers to help him during harvest. The farm made enough money to meet all his family’s daily needs. But a year later, his farm was hit by drought and its soil grew bitter. Only about 50 trees survived. “There is no motive to cultivate anymore,” said Falih, 52. “It’s not a matter of planting new trees or taking loans,” he said. “There is no a longer benefit from agriculture because of the salinity and dearth of water. All attempts are in vain.” “We will look for another work and come back only when there is water.”

Iraq struggles to revive date palm sector, eager to retrieve past glory