In Kuwait’s Wafra agricultural area, farmers are contending with an escalating issue of groundwater rising to the surface, causing waterlogging that threatens crop production. Abdulwahab Atallah Al-Sakran, a young farmer operating along Road 800, has reported this phenomenon affecting numerous farms, both longstanding and newly established.

Al-Sakran’s family farm, situated at Plot 9 on Road 800 and covering approximately 160,000 square meters, supports a wide array of agricultural activities. These include crop cultivation, livestock and poultry rearing, and tilapia fish farming. Currently, the farm is preparing for the 2026/2027 season by planting corn and pumpkins across extensive open-field areas. The farm also harvests dates from a collection of rare fruit-bearing palm varieties, such as Barim, Anbara, Hasawi, Sukkari, Barhi, and Ajwa Al-Madina, which receive specialized care.

Corn remains a principal focus for Al-Sakran due to its dual role as human food and livestock feed, a steady market presence, and its contribution to local food security goals. Alongside corn, the farm is expanding onion production, utilizing both “Hasawi” and Indian onion seeds to grow dry bulb onions—a crop noted for strong consumer demand and profitable returns despite its extended maturation period. Additionally, seeds for cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, hot and sweet peppers, and eggplant are being cultivated in the farm’s climate-controlled nursery.

Farmers in Wafra face several persistent challenges beyond waterlogging. Delays in the distribution of government subsidies for local agricultural production have strained financial resources, complicating the ability to meet rising labor wages and increased operational costs. Moreover, frequent interruptions in the supply of treated water undermine irrigation efforts across many Wafra farms.

Market conditions also pose difficulties, especially during peak production periods when an oversupply of certain crops leads to depressed prices. Al-Sakran attributes this partly to a lack of scientific or market-informed planning for crop varieties suited to consumer demand within Kuwait.

Pest-related damage remains another concern. Birds are reported to consume seeds and young plants in open fields, while spiny-tailed lizards (locally known as Dhabb) damage crops by feeding on leaves and seeds beneath the soil.

Despite these obstacles, Al-Sakran and fellow farmers express commitment to sustaining and developing the agricultural heritage of Wafra, continuing the work passed down by previous generations to cultivate the land and contribute to Kuwait’s food production.