A boy walks through a parched field in the Saadiya area, north of Diyala, in eastern Iraq. Photo: AFP
A boy walks through a parched field in the Saadiya area, north of Diyala, in eastern Iraq. Photo: AFP
A boy walks through a parched field in the Saadiya area, north of Diyala, in eastern Iraq. Photo: AFP
A boy walks through a parched field in the Saadiya area, north of Diyala, in eastern Iraq. Photo: AFP

Water crisis forces Iraq to further reduce winter crop area


Sinan Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraq will halve its cultivation area for winter crops this year, as the country tries to conserve water amid a crippling shortage that shows no sign of abating.

The decision, announced by Ministry of Agriculture after a meeting with the Minister of Water Resources on Sunday, further reduces the winter cultivation area after a similar move last year.

The reduction will be applied to the area cultivated last winter, the ministry said. It did not specify the area, but about five million dunums, or 500,000 hectares, were approved for planting last year.

The main winter crops in Iraq are wheat, barley and vegetables.

The ministry said the north-eastern province of Diyala, which suffers from acute water shortage but is heavily dependent on agriculture, was exempted from the restrictions.

Iraq has been suffering from scarcity of water in its two main sources, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as well as insufficient rains and high temperatures.

Water levels in these two rivers have dropped noticeably in recent years, as a result of upstream dams built by Turkey, and others constructed on their tributaries by Iran.

The water flow rate in both rivers is half of what it was at this time last year.

The water flow in the Diyala river has been cut off completely by dams in Iran, while it decreased by 70 per cent in the Lower Zab river.

Iraq has been pushing Turkey and Iran for an agreement that guarantees its fair share of water, but no progress has been made.

The Ministry of Water Resources says water flowing into Iraq has dropped to less than 50 billion cubic metres per year from a peak of nearly 80 billion cubic metres in the 1970s.

'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est) 

Gifts exchanged
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  • Queen Camilla -  Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
  • Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
  • Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

FULL%20RESULTS
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
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Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

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LOVE%20AGAIN
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Updated: October 18, 2021, 11:22 AM