Groundwater extraction for irrigation has notably increased in the
#Iraqi western
#desert, especially alongside the national
#springs of the Abu Jir lineament. Farmers who invest in bore-drilling equipment or well construction can support centre-pivot systems and irrigate extensive fields. Rapid groundwater abstraction from privately managed wells may deplete aquifers, negatively affecting springs and reducing their ability to feed traditional canals. As a result, farmlands downstream of these canals lack water and are abandoned unless new irrigation systems fed by modern channels or main river water capture are implemented. Consequently, large parts of the traditional irrigation system are not maintained, leading to potential social inequalities and population migration seeking subsistence opportunities.
read our new paper about this issue.
mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/1013