Iraqi olive farmers harness the power of the sun

Among olive groves that were once a front line between ISIS militants and Iraqi forces, Yunis Salman and a few other farmers are harnessing what they believe should be the future of agriculture in the Middle East: solar power

Among olive groves that were once a front line between ISIS and Iraqi forces, Yunis Salman and a few fellow farmers are harnessing what they believe should be the future of Middle East agriculture: the power of the sun. All photos: Reuters

Solar panels installed last year between his family's 1,500 olive trees help to power water pumping and irrigation, providing enough for production and several hours of electricity each day for their home.

Mr Salman believes solar power should be the future of agriculture and energy in the Middle East, where stifling summers are getting longer and hotter.

Fighting around Mosul in 2016-2017 destroyed vast amounts of infrastructure, including in this rich agricultural area where buildings have been flattened by air strikes.

Water sprinklers on a farm that uses solar panels.

At little cost beyond the initial solar panels set-up, his farm produces 40 tonnes of olives a year.

More from The National:

Climate change could turn Iraq's marshes into barren wasteland

Take a look inside the first privately owned Arabian horse stud in Iraq

King Faisal I of Iraq’s 1930 Mercedes 770K to be sold at auction

Stray animals find solace at Iraq animal shelter

Arabic oud star seeks to 'change soul' of Iraq with music - in pictures