Sumaya Abdul Ali Taher, a 46-year-old woman from northern Basra, lives with her elderly disabled mother and her brother who has six children. She carried the responsibility of caregiving and income generation through leafy crop farming, but climate change and water salinity destroyed her crops. She joined Action Against Hunger (ACF)’s Farmer Field Schools program as a part of Feminist Solutions to Climate Change-Driven Food Insecurity project funded by the Government of Canada and implemented in partnership with Oxfam, where she learned new agricultural techniques, expanded her network, and gained confidence. Sumaya has been empowered through decision making initiative meetings and workshops. She then became the first woman in northern Basra to achieve this milestone. Today, she has expanded her farming and marketing activities, and her ambition is to empower other rural women farmers by developing their skills and giving them a stronger voice.
Life is not easy for Sumaya, as she carries the responsibility of caring for her mother and providing income for the family through cultivating leafy crops and selling them in local markets.
Climate change and rising water salinity destroyed her crops, leaving her without her only source of livelihood. Sumaya recalls:
“I used to wake up every morning to tend my crops, they were my only income, but when they were ruined, I felt all my efforts were laid to waste.”
At a moment of despair, Sumaya found new hope when she joined Action Against Hunger (ACF) Farmer Field Schools program for six months, attending two workshops each month on agriculture, marketing, livestock, and strategic farming. 360 farmers were targeted for direct assistance, including 26 women.
Through these workshops, she not only gained agricultural knowledge but also learned about laws, expanded her network, and connected with trainers from the Directorate of Agriculture. She says:
“I asked many questions, and every answer opened a new door of understanding and ability.” She also benefited from training on saline water treatment through digging artesian wells and planting alternative crops, which restored her hope in farming.
When the Farmers’ Association announced official elections, Sumaya decided to run, becoming the first woman in northern Basra and in Basra overall to nominate herself for this position. She faced mockery from some candidates who claimed she could not win because she was a woman.
But she did not give up. With confidence, she ran in the elections and won by 11 points over her closest competitor. Sumaya proudly says: “They said I would not win, but I proved that women are capable of leadership and change.”
After her victory, Sumaya reached out to Action Against Hunger (ACF) to thank them, affirming that their training was the reason behind her success. She expanded her farming and marketing activities, and her ambitions grew: to include rural women farmers in the association and help develop their skills.
The story of Sumaya Abdul Ali Taher is not just about a woman who faced harsh circumstances, but a testimony that empowering rural women can transform reality and create new opportunities. From a farmer who lost her crops, to a leader in the Farmers’ Association, Sumaya proved that determination, knowledge, and courage build success.
Iraq, and particularly Basra, faces a severe water and climate crisis that directly impacts agriculture, livelihoods, and health. Rising water salinity, pollution, and poverty rates have left thousands vulnerable to malnutrition and economic instability, shaping the context of Sumaya’s story.
Basra governorate is home to over 4.5 million people, but only 60% of water needs are currently met. Infrastructure degradation has led to water leakage rates as high as 50% of total supply. Agriculture, which consumes 60–80% of water resources, has been hit hardest, leaving farmers like Sumaya struggling to sustain crops. Sumaya’s challenges crop loss due to salinity, lack of access to decision-makers, and economic hardship mirror the broader crisis in Basra.
Water scarcity, Climate change, and salinity directly destroyed her leafy crops. Poverty and lack of infrastructure limited her ability to recover financially. Climate pressures forced her to seek new solutions, such as training in water management and sustainable farming.
Her success in joining the Farmers’ Association and advocating for women farmers is not only personal but symbolic: it highlights how empowerment and capacity-building can help individuals overcome systemic challenges in Iraq’s fragile agricultural and water sectors
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 56 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
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