Farmers' protests in Iraq. They do not want to limit land cultivation

Hundreds of Iraqi farmers protested on Saturday against the government's policy of limiting land cultivation in order to preserve small water reserves, AFP said. According to the authorities, the reason for water deficiencies is the lowering water level in the largest rivers in the country and dams built in neighboring countries.

Iraq's agriculture, which still feels the effects of many years of war, is weakened by repeated drought and less and less rainfall.

Lack of access to sufficient water forced many farmers to stop growing farming, and the government strives to limit agricultural activities to guarantee drinking water 46 million inhabitants of the country.

In the province of Al-Kadisija, several hundred farmers gathered on Saturday, also from neighboring regions, to demand that the government consent to the role and pay them compensation for the losses suffered.

In the past, fertile lands along the tiger and eufrate have dried in recent decades due to the decrease in water level in these rivers. The authorities say that the reason for the lack of water is also building dams by neighboring countries.

According to the Iraqi government, the country currently receives less than 35 percent. river water, which he should have under agreements with neighbors.

The president of Iran, the neighboring Iran, Masud Pezeszkian said on Thursday that Tehran could no longer act as the capital of the country due to the crisis of water resources, manifested, among others drying of retention tanks. – Last year, rainfall was 140 mm, while the standard is 260 mm. This means a decrease in rainfall by about 50-60 percent. This year the situation is equally critical – he said. (PAP)

MW/ AKL/