State of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in Central and Southern Iraq: A review of post war situation

Abstract

This study is undertaken with the collaboration of the irrigation, water management and agricultural extension departments in Iraq. The data used in this study consists of irrigation network at project and farm level (irrigation channels/outlets, current irrigation systems such as surface, furrow, drip, and sprinklers and their extent), quality of irrigation water at the farm, irrigation practices, depth of groundwater, quality of groundwater, features of drainage systems (structures, depth of drainage network, efficiency, drainage type, expected life, and drainage maintenance system), collection of drainage effluent, quality of the drainage water, disposal and/or reuse options of the drainage effluent, and cropping system. The main focus of this study was Babil and Wasit provinces located in the central Iraq. Two major projects of these provinces namely Al-Mussiyan and Al-Dujailah were selected for assessing the existing status and performance of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Al-Mussiyab project is fed by the Euphrates River and Al-Dujaila project is fed by the Tigris Rivers. The main objective of this study is to review and document the current state of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in these two projects and assess the factors influencing irrigation delivery, irrigation management, and disposal of the drainage effluent. This report also aimed at highlighting the key deficiencies in the system that contributes to soil salinization and low land and water productivity. This information will finally be used to draw investment plans for the pilot scale development of irrigation and drainage infrastructure.