Expert: Water reserves in Iraq have increased to 34 billion cubic meters
Expert: Water reserves in Iraq have increased to 34 billion cubic meters
10-18-2026
Information/Special…
Economic expert Jalil al-Lami confirmed on Sunday that the increase in water inflows into Iraq as a result of rains and floods represents a significant economic and agricultural opportunity. However, he added that it also presents the government with a real test: how to translate this abundance into actual agricultural production instead of allowing the water to flow by without optimal utilization.
Speaking to Al-Maalouma, al-Lami stated that “Iraq witnessed an increase in water reserves during 2026 from approximately 5 billion to 34 billion cubic meters, according to the figures he cited, coinciding with the increase in water inflows.” He pointed out that “flows through the Euphrates River reached approximately 1,450 cubic meters per second during June, while inflows recorded around 680 cubic meters per second during September.”
He added that “investing limited quantities of this abundance efficiently can achieve significant agricultural results,” explaining that one billion cubic meters of water could theoretically cover the irrigation needs of approximately 500,000 dunams, assuming a consumption of 2,000 cubic meters per dunam during the growing season. He further stated that three billion cubic meters could support the cultivation of about 1.5 million dunams, depending on the type of crops and the efficiency of the irrigation systems.
Al-Lami indicated that “these figures necessitate including the investable quantities in the winter agricultural plan for the 2026-2027 season and expanding the cultivation of wheat, barley, and strategic crops, which would contribute to increasing local production and reducing reliance on imports, as well as providing job opportunities and improving farmers’ incomes.”
He pointed out that “the most prominent challenges are the limited capacity to store some water resources, the inefficiency of irrigation networks, the continued use of traditional irrigation methods, and the need to rehabilitate agricultural canals and drains.” He emphasized that “addressing these problems requires an urgent government plan that identifies the quantities that can be stored and the areas that can be included in the agricultural plan, while ensuring that water needs are met throughout the season.”
Al-Lami pointed out that “the arrival of water in the Shatt al-Arab and the Gulf cannot be considered a complete waste, as part of the flow is necessary to counteract salinity and preserve the marshes and the ecological and agricultural balance in southern Iraq.” He explained that “the real waste lies in the loss of water investment opportunities due to weak planning and inadequate infrastructure.”
He stressed “the importance of reaching a sustainable water agreement with Turkey that guarantees regular and planable releases throughout the year, instead of relying on floods and exceptional weather conditions.” He emphasized that “the government’s success in managing water resources should be measured by the size of agricultural areas brought into production, the increase in wheat and barley production, and the reduction in the import bill, not merely by increased water reserves or higher revenues.”
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