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Why do farmers in Iraq use pumps and water wheels to irrigate fields?

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Map showing the Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, with color shading for elevation, major dams, canals, lakes, and boundaries with neighboring countries. The green areas indicate lower elevations along the river valleys, while higher elevations are shaded in brown and orange. A small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within the Middle East. — Tigris-Euphrates river system The Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network.

Farmers in Iraq use pumps and water wheels to irrigate their fields because the Tigris-Euphrates river system is generally high at the wrong time of year for most crops, making direct inundation impractical for year-round cultivation.1

Because the rivers are often confined to lower courses or flow below the level of the surrounding fields, mechanical means are necessary to lift water into irrigation channels. The primary methods include:12

Water wheels: Historically, these were used to lift water from a stream into a trough that carried it to the fields. Pots tied to the rim of the wheel would submerge in the river and pour their contents out at the wheel's highest point.2
Pumps: In modern times, the use of pumps has increased dramatically. They are essential for moving water into irrigation systems, particularly for raised concrete flumes and other canal networks that require mechanical force to distribute water to crops.1

These methods are vital because irrigation is necessary throughout the year for approximately half of Iraq's arable land, helping to sustain agriculture in a region where rainfall is insufficient for many crops.3