We congratulate the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) on the release of their in-depth and pioneering study, “Making Every Drop Count: Can Drip Irrigation Save the Future of Agriculture in the Cradle of Civilization?” We highly commend the center’s immense efforts, as well as those of independent journalist and researcher Winthrop Rodgers, alongside contributors Erik Gustafson and Omar al-Nidawi, in accomplishing this vital work.

This study addresses a critical aspect of Iraq’s water crisis—the “demand side”—focusing on how farmers, from smallholders to agricultural companies, can be part of the solution by utilizing their water resources more efficiently.

Key Highlights of the Study:

• Exceptional Efficiency: The study demonstrates that adopting drip irrigation technology can increase agricultural yields by up to 50% while saving up to 60% of water for farmers and their communities.
• Barriers to Adoption: Despite the availability of necessary equipment in the markets, financial costs, lack of technical knowledge, and a reluctance to move away from traditional methods (like flood irrigation) remain major obstacles to the spread of this technology, particularly in central and southern Iraq.
• A Roadmap for Solutions: The study recommends launching a national initiative to modernize irrigation and institutionalizing coordination between the Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
• Supporting Farmers: The report calls for providing targeted financing mechanisms to support farmers through dedicated loans and grants to cover equipment costs, as well as accelerating the adoption of drip irrigation through national agricultural extension programs.

This study serves as a practical call to action to build a climate-resilient agricultural sector and represents a significant step toward securing a water-wise agricultural future that preserves Iraq’s rich farming heritage.