Which crops are grown in Iraq?

Iraq’s agricultural sector relies on a variety of crops, with production heavily influenced by regional irrigation and rainfall patterns. In the north and northeast, rain-fed agriculture supports winter crops, while the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers depend on irrigation throughout the year.1

The primary crops grown in Iraq include:

• Grains: Wheat, barley, rice, corn (maize), millet, and sorghum.12
• Fruits and Vegetables: Dates are a historically significant crop, often grown in groves alongside other fruit trees and vegetable gardens.12
• Industrial and Other Crops: Sugar beets, sugarcane, oil seeds, tobacco, cotton, and fodder.12

While agriculture has been a cornerstone of the economy for millennia, it faces ongoing challenges, including soil salinization caused by over-irrigation, recurring droughts, and water shortages. Farmers often employ traditional methods, such as alternate-year fallowing, to help manage soil health. Additionally, animal husbandry remains an important practice, particularly in the Kurdish northeast, providing products such as meat, milk, and wool.12