By Abbas Nazil
Iraq has announced a complete suspension of crop cultivation starting in September due to a severe and worsening water crisis, marking a critical moment in the country’s ongoing struggle with water scarcity.
The decision was disclosed by Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab Abdullah, who described 2025 as one of the most difficult years in the nation’s history with regard to water availability.
In an interview with the state-owned Al-Sabah newspaper, Abdullah revealed that the lack of adequate water inflow from neighboring countries has left the government with no option but to halt all agricultural activity.
According to the minister, the country’s strategic water reserves have reached alarmingly low levels.
Major reservoirs and dams such as Mosul, Darbandikhan, Dokan, Tharthar, Haditha, and Hamrin are now holding less than 8 billion cubic meters of water in total, a dangerously insufficient amount to meet the needs of both the agricultural sector and Iraq’s growing domestic population.
Abdullah pointed to upstream activities in Turkey as a major contributing factor to Iraq’s declining water supply.
He explained that Turkey’s control of water flow into the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers has drastically reduced Iraq’s share of cross-border water.
The Euphrates River’s flow into Iraq has dropped to less than half of its historical average, largely due to Turkish dam construction and water retention projects.
The current water release from Turkey to the Syrian border measures approximately 350 cubic meters per second.
By the time it reaches Iraq’s Haditha Dam, the flow has decreased to less than 200 cubic meters per second.
The situation is similar for the Tigris River, with Turkish releases currently standing at around 200 cubic meters per second.
This drastic reduction in water availability has led Iraqi authorities to cancel the upcoming wheat cultivation season, a significant blow to the country’s food production capacity.
For the past two years, Iraq had achieved self-sufficiency in wheat, producing over five million tons annually.
The minister expressed hope for some relief in the near future, noting that climate forecasts suggest the possibility of rainfall in October and a drop in temperatures beginning in September, which could lower evaporation rates and slightly improve the situation.
However, for now, the decision to suspend agriculture remains in place, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic efforts and long-term solutions to Iraq’s growing water crisis.
