Date Palm Forest Expansion: Iraq Now Home to 22 Million Trees

The nubmer of date palms in Iraq has rebounded to levels not seen since the 1980s, but they face a growing threat of drought © AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
The nubmer of date palms in Iraq has rebounded to levels not seen since the 1980s, but they face a growing threat of drought © AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture has announced a significant milestone in its efforts to expand the nation's date palm cultivation, revealing that the number of date palm trees across Iraq has exceeded 22 million.

Minister Abbas Jabr al-Maliki stated in a press release that this figure is expected to grow to 30 million date palms within the next five years.

As part of this initiative, the ministry is working with a leading British laboratory to utilize tissue culture technology, ensuring that new date palms maintain the same high-quality genetic characteristics as existing trees.

Date palms have long been a symbol of Iraq's agricultural heritage and play a vital role in the nation's economy, providing a key export crop and supporting local livelihoods. This expansion highlights Iraq's commitment to enhancing its agricultural sector and preserving its iconic date palm industry for future generations.