Honey produce in Kurdistan Region totals over 500 tons in 2023

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Approximately 8,000 beekeepers reside in the Kurdistan Region, and their produce this year totaled over 500 tons. Over two tons of products have been exported to Qatar so far, and more will be exported to other countries shortly.

There has been a significant revival of beekeeping in the Kurdistan Region, with thousands of farmers involved in the export and production of its prized derivative.

“Since the process of exporting Kurdistan Region honey, the demand for it has increased significantly,” said Ahmad Pishdari, a beekeeper.

Rizgar Hamad, an advisor for the agricultural ministry, also said the plan to export honey from the Kurdistan Region began last year, especially since it is of “high quality and other countries have expressed interest in acquiring it.”

The honey exported includes honey from areas such as Safeen, Akre, Pishdar, Bitwen, Sharbazher, Kalar, and Halabja. In addition, there is heavy demand for the produce domestically throughout Iraq, and the ministry does not constitute this as an export.

Furthermore, on Dec. 20, the first-ever shipment of apples from the Kurdistan Region was exported to Qatar.

This year at the Davos Forum, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani promoted Barwari Apples to business leaders, including the Majid Al-Fatim Group of Companies–which owns the Carrefour Market chain.

The product was tested internally and in the United Arab Emirates. After inspecting the apples and finding them to be of premium grade, company leadership agreed to source them.

Moreover, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) created a national training program for its farmers. The program aims to help Kurdish farmers prepare, grow, store, and export their produce.

The Kurdistan Agriculture Export Initiative, launched in 2022, is central to the KRG’s progressive reform agenda to diversify the economy and boost its agricultural sector.