The agricultural minister said that Iraq had to suspend the cultivation of crops which require large amounts of water such as rice, corn and wheat grains during the drought.
Spokesman Hamid Al-Nayef said “The agricultural plan for the summer” was modified “because the quantities of water needed for these cereals are not available.”
Cereal crops could no longer be grown without the approval of the ministry.
He said, “The ministry does not take this decision lightheartedly.”
This will be problematic in the long run, as rice is a key stable in Iraqi diet.
Iraq bears the nickname the land of two rivers, as Tigris and Euphrates both flow inside its borders, however, in recent years Iraq has faced many water shortages that have made it even harder for Iraqi citizens to engage in normalcy after many years of war.
Experts say that the rain shortages are not the only reason for water shortages in Iraq, but that water sharing of its resources within the region have contributed to its vast water problems.
Turkey and Iran are both partially responsible for Iraq’s water shortages as they have in recent years rerouted the water sources that they share with Iraq.
Later this month Iraq will face even more water shortages as Turkey’s begins draining water from the Tigris river in their controversial Ilisu dam project, that will sink villages and display tens of thousands of people.
Iraqis will also be affected as the Ilisu dam will further complicate the agricultural community and worse the economic conditions of farmers.
The dam has also angered Iraqis authorities who now have to add water shortages to the country’s chronic electricity shortages.