Minister of Resources: The situation of the Shatt al-Arab has become good after the release of water from the Karun River

Baghdad-INA

The Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Dhiab, confirmed today, Thursday, that the situation of the Shatt al-Arab has become good, while indicating efforts to change water transportation and reduce waste and evaporation.

Diab said in his speech during the dates conference and exhibition held by the Parliamentary Agriculture, Water and Marshlands Committee under the slogan (Palm cultivation and the Iraqi date industry between reality and ambition), and attended by the correspondent of the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The situation we are going through has many challenges.” Pointing out that “the agricultural sector is considered the primary consumer of the water sector, as the water we receive from neighboring countries, especially Turkey, is much less than previously agreed upon, in addition to our exposure to climate changes that put great pressure on the water situation, which constituted a major challenge towards securing water for all purposes.” Especially agricultural ones.”

He added, "There is ongoing work towards consultation with neighboring countries, and the results have been positive," pointing out that "the situation of the Shatt al-Arab has become good after the opening of the Karun River, as the continued opening of the river leads to a stabilization of the situation in southern Iraq, which prompts us not to pay quantities of water." To the south".

He continued, "Despite the difficult circumstances, we give priority to securing water for years of scarcity, especially for drinking purposes and human uses," explaining that "the current year was the worst year in terms of scarcity, but we were able to achieve irrigation of large areas of orchards and vegetables throughout Iraq, and this has a positive impact." It affected all agricultural and peasant societies.”

He stressed, "We are striving to change systems and methods, and there is a great effort on us internally, and measures have been taken in many locations and regions. We started with them, but with modest projects that will expand to be large in large areas of the country," pointing out, "We are seeking to change water transportation and the reality of traditional methods, waste, and evaporation through treat it with a closed irrigation network, and this is the currently used method.”

He stated that "Iraq was the first to introduce the experience of drip irrigation in the seventies of the last century, but the circumstances led to the loss of many opportunities, and currently time is available and all planting operations in desert areas depend on this method," explaining that "there are promising planting operations through the cultivation of palm trees." This is what was seen in the Fadak Farms in Holy Karbala.

The roads were advanced, and there are many experiments carried out by different sectors and investors and the trend towards using these roads.”