Iraqi date farmers fight drought to protect national treasure

In Iraq, the date palm and its bounty are national icons, but they are being battered by drought. Once known as the country of "30 million palm trees", Iraq's ancient date-growing culture had already suffered from upheaval, especially during the 1980-88 war with Iran, before climate change became a major threat. In the still lush countryside of central Iraq, near Janajah village in Babylon province, hundreds of date palms stand tall and majestic, surrounded by vines and fruit trees. During harvest season...