Assessment of the climate changes impact on agricultural lands productivity of Al-Muwafaqiyah

Abstract

Although agriculture is characterized by relative stability; But it has undergone change according to the surrounding conditions. Agriculture in Iraq has recently witnessed a rapid change in its characteristics, the cultivated areas, and the productivity of these areas, albeit to varying degrees, for several reasons, including: wars, water scarcity, and climatic changes in the region that led to its deterioration. This climate change has negatively affected agricultural crops and vegetative cover. This study revolves around the basics and details of the cultivation and production of strategic crops (wheat and barley) in the Al-Muwfiqiyah district, as a sample, in Wassit  Governorate / Iraq, to detect the impact of climatic changes on productivity and vegetation cover during the past two decades. The change in productivity and area of agricultural crops (using NDVI) was monitored according to changes in climate elements (temperature, humidity and rain), as they are the most influential climate elements on agriculture, This study showed that the relationship between the productivity of hectares and the climate change parameters adopted in this study is random and this result was logically reflected on the vegetation cover index. The aim of this study is to prepare a guide and develop a tool for planners and decision makers in preparing appropriate development plans and programs necessary to advance the reality of cultivation and production of those crops, and finding appropriate ways to develop and upgrade them in the future.