Adoption of palm tree cultivation techniques by farmers in Anbar Province: Iraq

Introduction Introduction and research problem

The agricultural sector in Iraq is one of the most important economic and social sectors that form a main pillar for the country's stability and development. Iraq has a long history in agriculture1, as it was considered one of the most prominent agricultural regions in the area thanks to the diversity of agricultural crops that were grown there, from grains and vegetables to fruits and palm trees [2] . Despite the challenges it faces, the agricultural sector in Iraq continues to play a vital role in providing food security and achieving self-sufficiency in many agricultural products [3] . The agricultural sector in Iraq accounts for about 20% of the gross domestic product [4] . Agricultural development is one of the most important pillars for the development of the economies of countries around the world, especially developing countries, given the important position of the agricultural sector in their national economies [5] and its direct link to their food security, in addition to its direct role in rural development and the achievement of economic, social, and cultural transformations in large areas of those countries [6] . Date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera) are one of the most important and oldest fruit trees, as they are of great economic importance [7] . It is believed that date palm trees originated in Mesopotamia (Iraq) more than 6,000 years [8] . Palm trees are characterized by their high productivity, low production costs, and high nutritional value of their fruits when compared to other crops. The desert environment in the Arab countries is one of the most suitable environments for palm tree growth [9] . Dates are considered a fruit with high nutritional value, as they are rich in many nutrients that promote good health. [10] . Palm cultivation is widespread in hot, dry, and semi-dry areas between latitudes 15-30 north of the equator. Iraq is one of the most important areas of cultivation in the world, with 32 million palm trees [11] . Anbar Governorate in Iraq is one of the agricultural regions with distinctive natural resources, where palm cultivation is widespread and forms an essential part of the region's agricultural and economic heritage [12] . Dates are considered a strategic agricultural product that contributes to supporting the local economy and provides extensive employment opportunities in rural communities in the governorate [13] . One of the most significant factors affecting palm production in Anbar province, as in other provinces, is pests and diseases. The spread of the red palm weevil, for example, has caused serious damage to palm trees, affecting production quality. Water shortages and irregular irrigation also have a negative impact on palm health, especially [14] in dry areas. Climate change, such as rising temperatures and drought, increases the stress on palm trees, leading to lower production. In addition, poor farm management and the use of traditional agricultural techniques have reduced the productivity of palm trees. Economic factors such as high farming costs, lack of government support, and poor marketing affect farmers' ability to invest in improving production. Therefore, attention to integrated pest management, improved irrigation methods, and support for farmers can contribute to the sustainable enhancement of date production [15] . The palm cultivation sector in Anbar province, as in the rest of Iraq's provinces, has seen a significant decline in date production in recent years. This is due to several factors, most notably the lack of attention to agricultural infrastructure, such as modern irrigation www.extensionjournal.com systems, and water scarcity, which affects tree growth [16] . The deterioration of agricultural land due to traditional practices and the absence of modern agricultural technology have also contributed to the decline in production. In addition, many farmers face challenges in combating pests and diseases that affect the health of palm trees. This decline in production threatens Iraq's position as one of the world's largest date producers [17] .

Area of the study

Anbar province was selected for this research, including all its areas from Fallujah in the east to Rutba in the west and from Rawa in the north to Al-Nukhayb in the south. The province is bordered by Nineveh province to the north, Najaf province to the south, Baghdad, Babil, and Karbala provinces to the east, and the Kingdom of Jordan to the west, as shown in the image (Administrative Map of Anbar). [18] , the total area suitable for agriculture in Anbar Province is 138,288 dunams, and the area planted with palm trees is 27,196 dunams, constituting 20% of the agricultural area of Anbar Province.

Research community

The research community included all palm grove owners within the agricultural divisions affiliated with the Anbar Agriculture Directorate, numbering 12,842 farmers distributed across the agricultural divisions in Anbar province. To calculate a research sample representative of the total community, the Stigman-Thompson equation was used, with a sample size of 345 respondents representing 2.68% of the study population.

Data collection tool

A questionnaire was used to collect data and information related to this study. The questionnaire was designed to be administered directly to farmers and included a set of basic topics covering various aspects of the adoption of palm tree cultivation techniques. The questions covered the following areas orchard planning, seedling cultivation methods, grafting, pollination, irrigation, and fertilization, with the aim of obtaining accurate and comprehensive data reflecting the actual level of adoption of agricultural recommendations for each area, in line with the objectives and problem of the research.

Results and Discussion

Palm grove area

The results in Table 3 show that most of the orchards (83.3%) fall into the first category of small area, followed by the medium area category (12.8%) and then the large area category (2.9%).

Farmers' knowledge of the best commercial palm varieties

Table (5) shows that the highest percentage of farmers (62%) know the best commercial palm varieties according to agricultural research recommendations, while the remaining 38% are unable to identify or recognize the best commercial palm varieties.

Farming method used

The results in Table 8 show that the majority of farmers (89.6%) used the cultivation method recommended by agricultural research in order to provide sufficient and regular space between palm trees for growth and spread of fronds without interference between trees and to allow light to enter between trees. while the rest (10.4%) did not do so.

Appropriate timing for pollination:

Table (10) shows that most farmers (67%) did not adhere to the appropriate timing for re-pollination as recommended by agricultural research, while 33% adhered to this recommendation. The results in Table (11) show that the majority of farmers (60.6%) add organic fertilizer according to the number of times recommended per year by agricultural research, while 39.4% did not follow this recommendation. 1.14. The right time to thin the fruit Table (14) shows that the majority of farmers (71.3%) did not adhere to the recommended timing for fruit thinning according to agricultural research recommendations, while the rest (28.7%) did adhere to it.

Conclusion and Recommendations

From this study, we conclude that palm farmers in Anbar have relatively good levels of education, but most of their orchards are small in size. and there is a clear disparity in their adoption of agricultural recommendations, as they adhered to recommended cultivation and preventive spraying, while adherence was weak in pollination, pruning, and fruit thinning., the study recommends intensifying practical extension programs to address weaknesses, supporting farmers with modern irrigation techniques and mechanical harvesting tools, establishing demonstration fields, and involving rural women to promote the adoption of recommended practices and achieve sustainable agricultural development.

References

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