Mohammed Nabeel Al-Ruwaishdi’s journey through the agricultural landscape of Iraq showcases the transformative power of technology in farming. Growing up between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, he was immersed in an environment where ancient irrigation techniques shaped the soil into one of the most fertile regions in history. This unique upbringing influenced his venture into modern agriculture, where traditional methods must adapt to changing realities.
From Humble Beginnings to Entrepreneurial Ventures
At just 15, Al-Ruwaishdi began trading vegetables in Najaf, learning essential aspects of agriculture as he operated a small shop. Despite exploring various career paths and managing multiple projects, agriculture consistently remained a thread in his life. “Each of my endeavors offered lessons, regardless of their outcome,” he reflects. However, as he navigated different business landscapes, he noted a troubling pattern: many initiatives faltered due to the lack of a strong team. “In Iraq, reliance on a single individual can lead to a business’s downfall,” he explains, highlighting the need for teamwork and effective management in entrepreneurship.
His academic journey took him to Al-Karkh University of Science, where he delved into Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. Here, he discovered satellites’ potential to monitor vast agricultural areas, helping farmers make informed decisions. Yet, he noticed that such technologies were largely underutilized in Iraqi agriculture; farmers were still reliant on traditional practices and personal observations. “This prompted a vital question: how can satellite data enhance farming outcomes?” he states, marking the beginning of his innovative agricultural approach.
Pioneering Change in Agricultural Practices
The concept materialized when Al-Ruwaishdi collaborated with an agricultural investor to monitor a 1,500-dunam farm using satellite imagery. This initiative unveiled significant data-driven insights that contradicted conventional farming observations. After confirming the satellite readings in the field, he realized that this technology had the potential to revolutionize agricultural management. Thus, in 2023, Al-Jabal Agriculture was born, addressing the challenges posed by outdated farming assumptions, especially in desert environments where soil characteristics diverge significantly from those of river plains.
Al-Ruwaishdi identified common practices leading to agricultural waste: farmers adhering to fertilization methods based on regional norms rather than tailored soil analyses. He emphasized the importance of context-specific strategies, given that soil conditions can vary remarkably even within adjacent plots. “A satellite captures the entirety of a field at once, offering insights that an individual farmer may miss,” he notes.
Transforming Traditional Farming with Technology
Al-Jabal Agriculture successfully secured significant investments and collaborations, enabling it to scale its operations throughout Iraq. The company integrates advanced satellite data, analyzing diverse factors affecting crop health, such as moisture levels and nitrogen content. However, the true value lies not just in the data but in the actionable intelligence it provides. Once concerns are identified, Al-Jabal dispatches teams to gather ground-level insights, ensuring that farmers receive comprehensive recommendations tailored to their specific needs.
Initially, demonstrating the utility of satellite imagery posed a challenge. Farmers were skeptical about using technology over established agricultural practices. “Building trust took years of hard work and tangible results,” Al-Ruwaishdi admits. Nevertheless, as the agricultural outcomes improved, more farmers began to embrace a data-driven approach.
Today, Al-Jabal Agriculture reports a reduction of agricultural waste by approximately 25%, with productivity rising by as much as 30% in some fields. What began as a modest project has burgeoned into an influential farming initiative, managing over 20,000 dunams across several governorates.
As Al-Jabal looks ahead, the focus is on expanding its technological capabilities while cementing data-driven agriculture as the new norm in Iraq. Al-Ruwaishdi envisions a future where every farmer relies on data, transforming age-old practices into intelligent, efficient agricultural systems that adapt to the realities of our evolving environment. Through innovation and education, he aims to create a path toward sustainable farming that respects both the rich heritage of Iraqi agriculture and the demands of modern technology.