Kurdish company owner says Dutch-Kurdish cooperation helps Kurdistan’s agricultural sector

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Bashar Mushir Agha Goran, General Director of Kurdistan-Holland (K-H) Company for Agricultural Investments, told Kurdistan 24 that they look forward to more cooperation between the Dutch and Kurdish government “so that agriculture could be a main source of revenue separate from oil.“

“The Netherlands is one of the most advanced countries in the area of agriculture. Kurdistan, on the other hand, has always been a land for agriculture,” he told Kurdistan 24, during the Dutch Consul General Hans Akerboom’s visit on Feb. 21.

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“Unfortunately, due to conflict and internal problems in Iraq, agriculture was not advanced in Kurdistan in the past,” he said.

“However, after Kurdistan’s liberation, we tried to learn from the agricultural experiences of states like the Netherlands so to have similar agriculture in Kurdistan.”

“We have various programs, but particularly we are focused on potato farming as it is one of the main foods for humans worldwide. The Dutch government has been supporting our efforts at the KH Company in the past 12 years. Through this cooperation with the Dutch government, we have been able to advance the quality of agriculture in Kurdistan.”

Last year, along with PM Masrour Barzani, the Dutch opened a big potato factory in Duhok, the Ambassador said. The project is worth 5.8 million Euros and is jointly funded by the Dutch Foreign Ministry and Bashar Mushir Agha Goran’s Kurdistan-Holland Company, with each party investing an equal amount.

Read More: Kurdistan PM lays foundation stone of potato processing plant in Duhok

The facility, the first of its kind in Iraq, will reach 8,000 farmers, create 160 sustainable jobs at the plant, and provide 10,000 job opportunities for refugees.

Bashar Mushir Agha Goran added that in the plans of the Ninth Cabinet of the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government), there has been a strong emphasis on the agriculture, industry, and tourism sectors.

“Moreover, Mr. Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, last year paid a visit to the Netherlands where he met with Mr. Mark Rutte, the Dutch Prime Minister.”

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“A memorandum of understanding (or agreement) was signed by both parties to establish a joint board of agriculture between the two governments in order to advance agriculture in Kurdistan.”

“This fruitful meeting was likewise in the interest of our KH Company, as we managed to start the Farmers Project in order to advance potato farming. These efforts have been equally supported by the KRG and the Dutch government.”

Bashar Mushir Agha Goran said they have been working with the Dutch government on agricultural projects for the last 12 years.

“The Consulate General of the Netherlands in the Kurdistan Region has a primary role for this cooperation. They have facilitated our actions, for instance, in issuing visas for Kurdish farmers who travel to the Netherlands in order to receive training courses and learn from Dutch experiences.”

“The Consulate General has been an important supporter of the agriculture sector in Kurdistan. Should the KRG’s ninth cabinet continue its programs as it does now, I believe that agriculture in Kurdistan will continue to progress.”

“We keep seeing that the KRG Prime minister or the Board of Investors are supporting the initiation of larger agricultural projects. Kurdistan can be one of the leading nations in the region if Kurdistan continues to allocate work to agriculture.”

He underlined that “farmers and the KH Company appreciate the KRG’s plans for agricultural projects. We look forward to more support for agriculture in Kurdistan.”