Iraqi olive farmers look to the sun to power their production

By John Davison

FADHILIYA, Iraq (Reuters) – Amongst olive groves that have been as soon as a entrance line between Islamic State militants and Iraqi forces, Yunis Salman and some fellow farmers are harnessing what they consider needs to be the way forward for Center East agriculture: the facility of the solar.

Photo voltaic panels put in final 12 months between his household’s 1,500 olive bushes assist to energy water pumping and irrigation, offering sufficient for manufacturing and several other hours of electrical energy every day for his or her residence.

The photo voltaic power has changed the a number of barrels of gas oil a day that they used to eat, Salman stated.

“My brother Omar received the concept after researching inexperienced power on-line,” Salman stated on the farm close to the northern Iraqi village of Fadhiliya, exterior Mosul. “He thought this was good for Iraq, the place we get a lot solar.”

Omar Salman purchased photo voltaic panels for $12,000 after which appealed to the United Nations Growth Programme, which has funded and expanded the mission, he stated.

Salman believes solar energy needs to be the way forward for agriculture and power within the Center East, the place stifling summers are getting longer and warmer.

“We endure each summer season, so why not at the least use it?” Salman stated.

In Iraq, a dilapidated nationwide grid usually gives just a few hours of energy every day, leaving many Iraqis to swelter via temperatures that recurrently surpass 50 levels Celsius.

Iraq is attempting to recuperate from many years of battle, worldwide sanctions and mismanagement. A few of the most devastating preventing occurred within the battle to defeat Islamic State militants, who took over round a 3rd of the nation in 2014.

Combating round Mosul in 2016-2017 destroyed huge quantities infrastructure, together with on this wealthy agricultural space the place buildings have been flattened by air strikes.

POTENTIAL SOLUTION

Iraq, one of many world’s largest oil producers, depends on crude oil exports for round 95 % of state income. It’s attempting to enhance the seize of gasoline launched throughout oil manufacturing to change into extra power self-sufficient, however with restricted success.

Fuel imports from Iran gas the nationwide grid and periodically halt when power consumption will increase. Baghdad owes Tehran billions of {dollars} for energy imports, and below U.S. sanctions should presently pay these money owed in meals and medication provides.

Solar energy, Salman believes, may assist clear up all these issues for Iraq. At little price past the preliminary photo voltaic panels set-up, his farm produces some 40 tonnes of olives a 12 months. A few of the produce is bought in Turkey and the Gulf.

The one draw back, Salman says, is the preliminary price.

“Most strange Iraqis couldn’t afford to spend such a lump sum. It ought to come from the state.”

Iraq has signed a number of offers for solar energy crops, together with with firms from United Arab Emirates, Norway, France and China.

The Iraqi authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Progress on increasing sustainable power has been gradual thus far, however worldwide assist officers hope initiatives like this one may also help to alter attitudes, particularly in official circles.

“A long time of battle and legacies of previous environmental insurance policies imply Iraq’s transition to renewable power sources won’t occur in a single day,” stated the UNDP’s Iraq consultant Zena Ali Ahmad.

“Photo voltaic power for agriculture is a comparatively new idea in Iraq, so whereas it did take the authorities just a little convincing, what we at the moment are witnessing is a gradual tradition shift, and a higher acceptance towards transitioning into clear, renewable power sources,” she stated.

(Reporting by John Davison. Modifying by Jane Merriman)