Diyala's Green Heart Withers: Climate and Neglect Threaten Iraq's Historic Orchards
Diyala’s historic orchards, especially in Khanaqin, are dying due to climate change, water scarcity, and cheap imports. Farmers are abandoning their lands, fueling the rural exodus and rising temperatures. Without urgent action, a vital green region may vanish forever.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Once celebrated as one of Iraq’s green lungs and vital agricultural heartlands, Diyala province—particularly areas like Khanaqin—is now witnessing the slow death of its orchards due to acute climate change, water scarcity, and the economic impact of cheap imported produce.
A Steady Decline in Orchard Yields
Mohammed Ahmed, the owner of a historic orchard in Khanaqin, shared his distress with Kurdistan24:
“This orchard is over 70 years old, but it’s no longer what it used to be. We now rely solely on well water. Most farmers have abandoned their lands because of drastically reduced yields, and the market has become unprofitable due to imported fruit.”
Alarming Shift in Land Use
As rainfall continues to dwindle, many orchard owners are resorting to drastic alternatives—drying out their lands and converting them into residential or commercial plots. This trend threatens to erase the region’s agricultural identity, once the backbone of its prosperity.
Dire Environmental Warnings
Environmental activist Sarbast Barzoo warned in comments to Kurdistan24 that the decay of orchards is directly contributing to rising temperatures:
“Khanaqin and central Diyala used to be surrounded by orchards. With vegetation cover diminishing, we’re seeing a noticeable rise in temperatures compared to post-1975 levels. If things continue this way, we’ll lose what remains of these green spaces.”
Rural Exodus and Social Strain
The collapse of agriculture has forced hundreds of families in Diyala to abandon their villages and migrate to urban centers, placing additional strain on city infrastructure and exacerbating unemployment and poverty in the countryside.
Diyala’s once-vibrant orchards now teeter on the brink of extinction, victims of institutional neglect and a changing climate.
Observers warn that without immediate, concrete support for this vital sector, one of Iraq’s oldest and richest agricultural regions could soon turn into a barren desert—a devastating ecological, economic, and historical loss for the country.
Kurdistan24's correspondent Harem Jaf contributed to this report.
