Iraq: Drought slashes seasonal harvest, water and food supply

Extreme temperatures and long, dry spells have forced one in two Iraqi families to cultivate less land or use less water during the 2024 farming season compared to previous years, compounding a severe drought crisis in the country, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warns in a new report.

As COP 29 takes place in Azerbaijan, the impact of climate change on Iraqi families is laid bare in a new report by NRC, which has been monitoring drought trends among agricultural communities in Iraq for the past four years. The new report surveys 709 displaced and returnee Iraqis across five governorates of Iraq to understand how climate change affects harvest and income changes, and ultimately people’s ability to recover from years of conflict and economic instability.

Among the displaced households surveyed, 59 per cent report now having to reduce their food expenditure, as the reduction in agricultural input has reduced their income and food security. Three in four households report community tensions over competition for water resources.

“For the fourth year in a row, we hear stories of how severe drought conditions undermine Iraqis’ ability to farm their lands. This is happening against a backdrop of prolonged displacement and a chronic mismanagement of water resources. Climate change has compounded the devastation left by years of conflict. The world’s largest polluters, which also happen to be among the richest, must share the collective responsibility of investing in climate-resilient transformational projects in countries like Iraq,” said Sue Clarke, NRC’s country director for Iraq.

In 2023, Iraq reported a decline in the harvest of eight out of the top ten crops, including vegetables and legumes. The country’s agricultural production was no longer able to meet the national food market demands or secure the population’s consumption needs.

Iraq’s water infrastructure has also suffered significantly from two decades of conflict. It remains poorly equipped to handle current and future challenges. The country’s irrigation methods are outdated, with as much as around 70 per cent of farmers still relying on flood irrigation despite severe water shortages.

NRC’s report also reveals that the ability of displaced families to return to their areas of origin is undermined by climate-induced stressors.

“It is time for Iraq to receive the support it urgently needs to take the first step towards reversing years of climate fallout. This includes funding for projects that target the rebuilding of agriculture in conflict-affected regions and overhauling water resource management,” said Clarke.

“Where should we go? The land my ancestors farmed for generations is barren,” Osman, a displaced farmer from the Ninewa governorate, told NRC. “Those who have returned home tell us every day is a struggle. Life is tough here, but the reality at home is tougher.”

NRC calls for the Azerbaijan COP 29 Presidency, parties, and other decision makers at COP 29 to ensure that financing for climate change adaptation reaches displacement-affected communities in fragile, conflict-affected settings.